UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

OIFT  OK 

^  ^        Q     , 

1/Vvv-O  ,       J  *ST\Asr-^ 

PSbr1/l 


X 


7 


THE  HARRIS-INGRAM 
EXPERIMENT 


THE  HARRIS-INGRAM 
EXPERIMENT 


BY  CHARLES  E.  BOLTON,  M.A. 

AUTHOR  OF   "A   MODEL  VILLAGE  AND  OTHER  PAPERS, 
14  TRAVELS   IN  EUROPE  AND  AMERICA,"  ETC. 


THE  BURROWS  BROTHERS  COMPANY 


Copyright  1904  by 
THE  BURROWS  BROTHERS  COMPANY 


Published  November  1904 


George  French  Boston 


TO    MY    WIFE 

SARAH  KNOWLES  BOLTON 

AND    MY   SON 

CHARLES  KNOWLES  BOLTON 


134570 


INTRODUCTION 

THIS  volume  was  ready  for  publication 
when  my  husband  died,  October  23,  1901. 
In  it,  in  connection  with  a  love  story  and 
some  foreign  travel,  he  strove  to  show  how 
necessary  capital  and  labor  are  to  each 
other.  He  had  always  been  a  friend  to 
labor,  and  there  were  no  more  sincere 
mourners  at  his  funeral  than  the  persons 
he  employed.  He  believed  capital  should  be 
conciliatory  and  helpful,  and  co-operate 
with  labor  in  the  most  friendly  manner, 
without  either  party  being  arrogant  or 
indifferent. 

Mr.  Bolton  took  the  deepest  interest  in 
all  civic  problems,  and  it  is  a  comfort  to 
those  who  loved  him  that  his  book,  "A 
Model  Village  and  Other  Papers,'1  came 
from  the  press  a  few  days  before  his  death. 
He  had  hoped  after  finishing  a  book  of 
travel,  having  crossed  the  ocean  many 
times  and  been  in  many  lands,  and  doing 
some  other  active  work  in  public  life,  to 
take  a  trip  around  the  world  and  rest,  but 
rest  came  in  another  way. 

SARAH  K.  BOLTON 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 


PREFACE 

MR.  W.  D.  HOWELLS,  in  reply  to  a  literary 
society  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  said 
that  most  people  had  within  their  personal 
experience  one  book. 

I  have  often  quoted  Howells's  words  to 
my  best  friend,  who  has  written  a  score 
of  books,  and  the  answer  as  frequently 
comes,  "Why  not  write  a  book  yourself t" 
Encouraged  by  Howells's  belief,  and  stimu 
lated  by  the  accepted  challenge  of  my 
friend,  to  whom  I  promised  a  completed 
book  in  twelve  months,  I  found  time  during 
a  very  busy  year  to  pencil  the  chapters 
that  follow.  Most  of  the  book  was  written 
while  waiting  at  stations,  or  on  the  cars, 
and  in  hotels,  using  the  spare  moments  of 
an  eight-months'  lecture  season,  and  the 
four  months  at  home  occupied  by  business. 

I  am  aware  that  some  critics  decry  a 
novel  written  with  a  purpose.  Permit  me 
therefore  in  advance  to  admit  that  this 
book  has  a  double  purpose:  To  test  the 
truth  of  Howells's  words  as  applied  to 
myself;  and  to  describe  a  journey,  both  at 


12  Contents — Continued 

Chapter  XIV 
Colonel  Harris  Follows  his  Family  Abroad    .        .218 

Chapter  XV 
Safe  Passage,  and  a  Happy  Reunion        .        .        .    230 

Chapter  XVI 
A  Search  for  Ideas 245 

Chapter  XVII 
The  Harrises  Visit  Paris  .        .     •  »'       .        .264 

Chapter  XVIII 
In  Belgium   and  Holland 278 

Chapter  XIX 
Paris,    and    the    Wedding 294 

Chapter  XX 
Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena" 313 

Chapter  XXI 
Two    Unanswered    Letters          .      •••*        .        .        .     332 

Chapter  XXII 
Colonel  Harris's  Big  Blue   Envelope         .        .         .     352 

Chapter  XXIII 
Gold   Marries    Gold 369 

Chapter  XXIV 
The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold     ....    382 

Chapter  XXV 
Workings  of  the  Harris-Ingram  Experiment     .         .     396 

Chapter  XXVI 

Unexpected  Meetings 418 

Chapter  XXVII 
The   Crisis  .    433 


Bin- 

"NIVER8ITY 


OF 


THE   HARRIS-INGRAM 
EXPERIMENT 

CHAPTER  I 

THE    HARRISES   IN   NEW    YORK 

IT  was  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
a  bright  little  messenger  boy  in  blue 
touched  the  electric  button  of  Room  No.  - 
in  Carnegie  Studio,  New  York  City.  At 
once  the  door  flew  open  and  a  handsome 
young  artist  received  a  Western  Union 
telegram,  and  quickly  signed  his  name, 
"Alfonso  H.  Harris"  in  the  boy's  book. 
' 1  Here,  my  boy,  is  twenty-five  cents, ' '  he 
said,  and  tore  open  the  message,  which 
read  as  follows:— 

HARRISVILLE,  - 
Alfonso  H.  Harris, 

Carnegie  Studio,  New  York. 
We  reach  Grand  Central  Depot  at  7:10 
o'clock  tomorrow  evening  in  our  new  pri 
vate  car  Alfonso.   Family  greetings;   all 

REUBEN  HARRIS. 


14     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Alfonso  put  the  telegram  in  his  pocket, 
completed  packing  his  steamer  trunk, 
wrote  a  letter  to  his  landlord,  enclosing 
a  check  for  the  last  quarter's  rent,  and 
ran  downstairs  and  over  to  the  storage 
company,  to  leave  an  order  to  call  for 
two  big  trunks  of  artist's  belongings,  not 
needed  in  Europe. 

A  hansom-cab  took  him  to  the  Windsor 
Hotel,  where  he  almost  forgot  to  pay  his 
barber  for  a  shave,  such  was  his  excite 
ment.  A  little  dry  toast,  two  soft  boiled 
eggs,  and  a  cup  of  coffee  were  quite  suf 
ficient,  since  his  appetite,  usually  very 
good,  somehow  had  failed  him. 

It  was  now  fifteen  minutes  to  seven 
o'clock.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  Alfonso 
was  to  meet  his  father,  mother,  and  sisters, 
and  after  a  few  days  in  the  metropolis, 
join  them  in  an  extended  journey  over  the 
British  Isles,  and  possibly  through  por 
tions  of  Europe. 

Alfonso  was  the  only  son  of  Reuben 
Harris,  a  rich  manufacturer  of  iron  and 
steel.  His  father,  a  man  naturally  of  very 
firm  will,  had  earnestly  longed  that  his  only 
son  might  succeed  him  in  business,  and  so 
increase  and  perpetuate  a  fortune  already 
colossal.  It  was  a  terrible  struggle  for 


The  Harrises  in  New  York          15 

Harris  senior  to  yield  to  his  son's  strong 
inclination  to  study  art,  but  once  the  father 
had  been  won  over,  no  doubt  in  part  by 
the  mother's  strong  love  for  her  only  boy, 
he  assured  Alfonso  that  he  would  be  loyal 
to  him,  so  long  as  his  son  was  loyal  to  his 
profession.  This  had  given  the  boy  courage, 
and  he  had  improved  every  opportunity 
while  in  New  York  to  acquaint  himself  with 
art,  and  his  application  to  study  had  been 
such  that  he  was  not  only  popular  with  his 
fellow  artists,  but  they  recognized  that  he 
possessed  great  capacity  for  painstaking 
work. 

Alfonso  jumped  into  a  coupe,  having 
ordered  a  carriage  to  follow  him  to  the 
Grand  Central  Station.  It  was  ten  minutes 
yet  before  the  express  was  due.  Nervously 
he  puffed  at  his  unlighted  cigar,  wishing 
he  had  a  match;  in  fact,  his  nerves  were 
never  more  unstrung.  It  was  a  happy 
surprise,  and  no  doubt  his  youthful  vanity 
was  elated,  that  his  father  should  have 
named  his  new  palace  car  "Alfonso."  At 
least  it  convinced  him  that  his  father  was 
loyal. 

As  the  coupe  stopped,  he  rushed  into  the 
station,  just  in  time  to  see  the  famous 
engine  No.  999  pull  in.  She  was  on  time 


16     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

to  a  second,  as  indicated  by  the  great  depot 
clock.  A  ponderous  thing  of  life ;  the  steam 
and  air  valves  closed,  yet  her  heavy 
breathing  told  of  tremendous  reserve 
power.  What  a  record  she  had  made,  436J 
miles  in  425|  minutes!  Truly,  man's  most 
useful  handiwork,  to  be  surpassed  only 
by  the  practical  dynamo  on  wheels!  It 
was  not  strange  that  the  multitude  on  the 
platform  gazed  in  wonder. 

There  at  the  rear  of  the  train  was  the 
"Alfonso,"  and  young  Harris  in  company 
with  his  artist  friend,  Leo,  who  by  appoint 
ment  had  also  hastened  to  the  station, 
stepped  quickly  back  to  meet  the  occu 
pants  of  the  new  car. 

First  to  alight  was  Jean,  valet  to  the 
Harris  family.  Jean  was  born  near  Paris 
and  could  speak  French,  German,  and 
several  other  languages.  His  hands  and 
arms  were  full  to  overflowing  of  valises, 
hat  boxes,  shawls,  canes,  etc.,  that  told 
of  a  full  purse,  but  which  are  the  very 
things  that  make  traveling  a  burden. 

By  this  time  Alfonso  had  climbed  the 
car  steps  and  was  in  his  mother's  arms. 
Mrs.  Harris  was  more  fond,  if  possible., 
of  her  only  son  than  of  her  beautiful 
daughters.  She  was  a  handsome  woman 


The  Harrises  in  New  York          17 

herself,  loved  dress  and  was  proud  of  the 
Harris  achievements.  Alfonso  kissed  his 
sisters,  Lucille  and  Gertrude,  and  shook 
hands  warmly  with  his  father,  who  was 
busy  giving  instructions  to  his  car  con 
ductor. 

Alfonso  in  his  joy  had  almost  forgotten 
his  friend  Leo,  but  apologizing,  he  intro 
duced  him,  first  to  his  mother,  then  to 
Gertrude  and  finally  to  his  sister  Lucille, 
and  their  father.  All  seemed  glad  to  meet 
their  son's  friend,  as  he  was  to  take  pas 
sage  in  the  same  steamer  for  his  home  near 
Eome. 

Leo  Colonna  was  connected  with  the 
famous  Colonna  family  of  Italy.  From 
childhood  he  had  had  access  to  the  best 
schools  and  galleries  of  his  peninsular 
country.  He  also  had  studied  under  the 
best  masters  in  Paris  and  Berlin,  and  was 
especially  fond  of  flesh  coloring  and  por 
trait  painting.  He  had  studied  anatomy, 
and  had  taken  a  diploma  as  surgeon  in 
the  best  medical  college  in  Vienna,  merely 
that  he  might  know  the  human  form. 
Alfonso,  aware  of  all  this,  had  invited  Leo 
to  join  their  party  in  making  the  tour 
over  Ireland,  England,  and  through  the 
Netherlands. 


18      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

As  Lucille  left  the  car,  Leo  offered  aid, 
taking  her  blue  silk  umbrella  with  its 
wounded-oak  handle,  the  whole  rolled  as 
small  as  a  cane.  Lucille  never  appeared 
to  better  advantage.  She  was  tall,  slender, 
and  graceful.  Excitement  had  tinged  her 
cheeks  and  lips,  and  her  whole  face  had 
a  child's  smooth,  pink  complexion.  Wavy 
black  hair  and  blue  eyes  revealed  the  Irish 
blood  that  had  come  from  the  mother's 
veins.  She  wore  a  traveling  suit  of  navy- 
blue  serge.  Her  hat,  of  latest  style,  was 
made  of  black  velvet,  steel  ornaments,  and 
ostrich  tips.  What  artist  could  resist  admir 
ing  a  woman  so  fair  and  commanding ! 
The  dark  eyes  of  Leo  had  met  those  of 
Lucille,  and  he  at  once  had  surrendered.  In 
fact,  a  formidable  rival  had  now  conquered 
Leo's  heart. 

Together  they  led  the  way  to  the  front 
entrance  of  the  station,  while  Harris 
senior  delayed  a  moment  to  exhibit  the 
car  "Alfonso"  to  his  son.  "I  had  this 
private  car  built,"  said  the  father,  "that 
the  Harris  family  might  be  exclusive. 
Napoleon  once  said: — 'Let  me  be  seen  but 
three  times  at  the  theatre,  and  I  shall  no 
longer  excite  attention.'  Our  car  is  adapted 
for  service  on  any  standard  gauge  road, 
so  that  we  can  travel  in  privacy  throughout 


The  Harrises  in  New  York          19 

the  United  States.  You  notice  that  this 
observation  room  is  furnished  in  quar 
tered  English  oak,  and  has  a  luxurious 
sofa  and  arm  chairs.  Let  us  step  back. 
Here  on  the  right  are  state  and  family 
rooms  finished  in  mahogany;  each  room 
has  a  connecting  toilet  room,  with  wash 
stand  and  bath  room,  hot  and  cold  water 
being  provided,  also  mirrors,  wardrobe 
and  lockers.  The  parlor  or  dining  room 
is  eighteen  feet  long  and  the  extension 
table  will  seat  twelve  persons.  Here  also 
is  a  well  selected  library  and  writing 
desk.'7 

"But  where  is  the  kitchen?"  asked  Al 
fonso. 

"Beyond,"  said  the  father.  "The  pan 
try,  china  closet,  and  kitchen  are  finished 
in  black  walnut.  Blankets,  linen,  and  table 
ware  are  of  best  quality.  Here  are  berths 
for  attendants  and  porter's  room  for  bag 
gage.  Carpets,  rugs,  draperies,  and  uphol 
stery  were  especially  imported  to  harmo 
nize.  Nobody  amounts  to  much  in  these 
days,  Alfonso,  unless  he  owns  a  private 
car  or  a  steam  yacht.  Henceforth  this  car, 
named  in  your  honor,  may  play  an  import 
ant  part  in  the  history  of  the  Harris 
family." 

Mrs.  Harris,  Leo,  and  Lucille,  took  seats 


20     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

in  the  carriage;  Gertrude  and  her  mother 
were  on  the  back  seat,  while  Lucille  and 
her  artist  friend  faced  Mrs.  Harris  and 
daughter. 

Jean  sat  upright  with  the  coachman. 
Colonel  Harris  and  Alfonso  rejoined  their 
friends  and  together  entered  the  coupe. 
Eeuben  Harris  once  served  on  the  govern 
or's  staff  for  seven  weeks,  ranking  as 
colonel,  so  now  all  his  friends,  even  his 
family,  spoke  of  him  as  "the  Colonel." 
It  was  well,  as  it  pleased  his  vanity. 

The  coachmen's  whips  left  their  sockets, 
and  coupe  and  carriage  dashed  along  42nd 
Street  and  down  Fifth  Avenue.  The  ten 
minutes'  drive  passed  as  a  dream  to  some 
in  the  carriage.  Mrs. Harris's  mind  revelled 
in  the  intricate  warfare  of  society.  She 
had  often  been  in  New  York,  and  in  the 
summers  was  seen  at  the  most  fashionable 
watering  places  with  her  children.  Her 
mind  was  burdened  trying  to  discover  the 
steps  that  lead  to  the  metropolitan  and 
international  "four  hundred."  She  was 
determined  that  her  children  should  marry 
into  well  regulated  families,  and  that  the 
colonel  should  have  a  national  reputation. 
So  absorbed  was  she  that  her  eyes  saw  not, 
neither  did  her  ears  hear  what  transpired 


The  Harrises  in  New  York          21 

in  the  carriage.  Gertrude  was  equally 
quiet;  her  thoughts  were  of  dear  friends 
she  had  left  in  Harrisville.  The  occupants 
of  the  front  seats  had  talked  in  low  tones 
of  recent  society  events  in  New  York,  and 
a  little  of  art.  Lucille  herself  had  dabbled 
in  color  for  a  term  or  two  in  a  fashionable 
school  on  the  Back  Bay  in  Boston. 

The  colonel  had  become  enthusiastic  in 
his  talk  about  his  own  recent  business  pros 
perity.  Suddenly  coupe  and  carriage 
stopped  in  front  of  the  main  entrance  of 
the  Hotel  Waldorf.  How  fine  the  detail 
of  arch  and  columns!  How  delicate  the 
architect's  touch  of  iron  and  glass  in  the 
porte-cochere ! 

The  Harris  family  stepped  quickly  into 
the  public  reception-room  to  the  left  of 
the  main  entrance  adjoining  the  office, 
leaving  Jean  and  the  porter  to  bring 
the  hand-baggage.  The  decorated  ceiling 
framed  a  central  group  of  brilliant  incan 
descent  lights  with  globes.  Leo  directed 
attention  to  the  paintings  on  the  walls,  and 
furniture  and  rugs. 

The  colonel  excused  himself  and  passed 
out  and  into  the  main  offices.  The  sight 
about  him  was  an  inspiring  one.  The  archi 
tect's  wand  had  wrought  grace  and  beauty 


22      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

in  floor,  ceiling,  column,  and  wall.  Gentle 
men,  old  and  young,  were  coming  and 
going.  Professional  men,  not  a  few,  bankers 
and  business  men  jostled  each  other.  Be 
fore  the  colonel  had  reached  the  clerk's 
desk,  he  had  apologized,  twice  at  least, 
for  his  haste.  The  fact  was  that  metropoli 
tan  activity  delighted  his  heart,  but  it 
disturbed  just  a  little  his  usual  good 
behavior.  Nervously,  he  wrote  in  the  Wal 
dorf  register  plain  Reuben  Harris,  wife 
and  two  daughters.  He  wanted  to  prefix 
colonel.  His  son  added  his  own  name. 
Colonel  Harris,  at  his  request,  was  given 
the  best  apartments  in  the  Waldorf. 

Leo  excused  himself  for  the  night,  Lucille 
saying  the  last  words  in  low  tones,  and 
then,  liveried  attendants  conducted  the 
Harris  family  to  their  suite  of  rooms.  It 
was  half  past  eight  when  the  Harrises  sat 
down  to  their  first  meal  in  their  private 
dining-room.  As  Mrs.  Harris  waited  for 
her  hot  clam  soup  to  cool  a  little,  she  said, 
"Beuben,  this  exclusiveness  and  elegance 
is  quite  to  my  liking.  After  our  return 
from  Europe,  why  can't  we  all  spend  our 
winters  in  New  York?" 

"No,  mother, "  said  Gertrude,  "we  have 
our  duties  to  the  people  of  Harrisville, 


The  Harrises  in  Neiv  York          23 

and  father,  I  am  sure,  will  never  stay  long 
away  from  his  mills. " 

But  Lucille  approved  her  mother's  plan, 
and  was  seconded  by  her  brother.  Colonel 
Harris  was  interested  in  the  views  ex 
pressed,  but  with  judicial  tone,  he  replied, 
"The  Harrises  better  wait  till  the  right 
time  comes.  Great  financial  changes  are 
possible  in  a  day." 

The  dinner,  though  late,  was  excellent. 
Before  ten  o'clock  all  were  glad  to  retire, 
except  the  head  of  the  family,  who  hoped 
the  night  would  be  short,  as  the  next  day 
might  witness  very  important  business 
transactions. 

Colonel  Harris  took  the  elevator  down 
to  the  gentlemen's  cafe,  adjoining  the 
beautiful  Garden  Court.  For  a  moment 
he  stood  admiring  the  massive  fire-place 
and  the  many  artistic  effects,  mural  and 
otherwise.  The  cafe  was  furnished  with 
round  tables  and  inviting  chairs.  Guests  of 
the  hotel,  members  of  city  clubs,  and 
strangers,  came  and  went,  but  the  colonel 's 
mind  was  in  an  anxious  mood,  so  he  sought 
a  quiet  corner,  lighted  a  cigar,  and  acci- 
dently  picked  up  the  Evening  Post.  Almost 
the  first  thing  he  read  was  an  item  of 
shipping  news : 


24     The  TL  arris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

"No  word  yet  from  the  overdue  steam 
ship  ' Majestic;'  she  is  already  forty-eight 
hours  late,  and  very  likely  has  experienced 
bad  weather. ' ' 

The  "Majestic"  is  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  of  the  famous  White  Star  Line  fleet. 
Colonel  Harris  expected  an  English  gentle 
man  to  arrive  by  this  boat,  and  he  had 
come  on  to  New  York  to  meet  him,  as  the 
two  had  business  of  great  importance  to 
talk  over.  "I  wonder,"  thought  the  colonel, 
"if  such  a  thing  could  happen,  that  my 
cherished  plan  of  retiring  with  millions, 
might  possibly  be  frustrated  by  shipwreck 
or  any  unlooked-for  event?"  Whereupon 
he  pulled  from  his  pocket  a  cablegram, 
to  make  himself  doubly  sure  that  his  was 
not  a  fool's  errand,  and  again  read  it  in 
audible  tones : 

LONDON,  MAY  24,  18 — . 
Col.  Reuben  Harris, 

Hotel  Waldorf,  New  York. 
Hugh    Searles,    our   agent,    sails    May 
twenty-fifth  on  Majestic.  Meet  him  at  Hotel 
Waldorf,  New  York. 

GUERNEY  &  BARBING. 

The  signers  of  the  cablegram  were 
young  bankers  and  brokers,  occupying 


The  Harrises  in  New  York          25 

sumptuous  quarters  on  Threadneedle 
Street,  in  sight  of  the  Bank  of  England, 
the  Exchange,  and  the  Mansion  House  or 
official  residence  of  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
London.  The  fathers  of  each  member  of 
the  firm  had  been  at  the  head  of  great 
banking  houses  in  London  for  many  years, 
and  after  herculean  efforts,  their  banks 
had  failed.  These  young  men  had  united 
families  and  forces,  and  resolved  to  win 
again  a  financial  standing  in  the  world's 
metropolis.  Shrewdly  they  had  opened  a 
score  of  branch  offices  in  different  parts 
of  London  and  county;  besides  they  had 
added  a  brokerage  business,  which  had 
drifted  into  an  extensive  specialty  of  pro 
moting  syndicates  in  America  and  the 
colonies.  Their  success  in  handling  high 
grade  manufacturing  plants  had  been 
phenomenal.  Already  at  this  business  they 
had  netted  two  million  pounds.  Reliable 
and  expert  accountants  were  always  sent 
by  them  to  examine  thoroughly  a  client's 
ledgers.  Already,  bonds  that  carried  the 
approval  of  Guerney  &  Barring,  found 
ready  market  on  Lombard,  Prince,  and 
other  financial  streets  near  the  Bank  of 
England. 

Colonel  Harris  relighted  his  cigar  and 


26      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

queried  to  himself,  "What  ought  I  to 
charge  these  Englishmen  for  a  property 
that  cost  barely  two  millions,  but  that  has 
brought  to  the  Harris  family,  annually 
for  ten  years,  an  average  of  30%,  or 
$600,000 !"  At  first  he  had  fixed  upon  six 
millions  as  a  fair  price,  and  then  finally 
upon  five  million  dollars.  While  he  thus 
reflected,  he  fell  asleep.  It  was  after  eleven 
o'clock  when  the  Waldorf  attendant  caught 
him,  or  he  would  have  fallen  from  his  chair 
to  the  floor.  Colonel  Harris  gave  him  a 
piece  of  silver,  and  retired  for  the  night. 


CHAPTER  II 

HUGH  SEABLES  OF  LONDON  ARRIVES 

THE  next  day  was  Sunday,  and  the  Harris 
family  slept  late.  Jean  was  first  to  rise, 
and  buying  the  morning  papers  left  them 
at  Colonel  Harris's  door. 

It  was  almost  nine  o'clock  when  the 
family  gathered  in  their  private  dining- 
room.  The  night's  sleep  had  refreshed  all. 
The  mother  was  very  cheerful  over  her 
coffee,  and  heartily  enjoyed  planning  for 
the  day.  She  liked  New  York  best  of  the 
American  cities.  Brown  stone  and  marble 
fronts,  fine  equipage  and  dress,  had  charms 
for  her,  that  almost  made  her  forget  a 
pleasant  home  and  duties  at  Harrisville. 
She  was  heart  and  soul  in  her  husband's 
newest  scheme  to  close  out  business,  and 
devote  the  balance  of  life  to  politics  and 
society.  Naturally  therefore  the  table-talk 
drifted  to  a  discussion  of  the  possible 
causes  of  the  steamer's  delay. 

Lucille  looked  up,  and  said,  "Father, 
the  Tribune  says,  'Fair  weather  for  New 


28      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

England  and  the  Atlantic  coast/  Cheer 
up !  The  'Majestic'  will  bring  your  English 
man  in,  I  think.  This  is  a  lovely  day  to 
be  in  the  metropolis.  Come  father,  let  me 
sweeten  your  coffee.  One  or  two  lumps  V 

"Two,  my  dear,  if  you  please.  Now  what 
will  give  you  all  the  most  pleasure  to 
day?" 

Alfonso  answered,  "Why  not  take  a 
drive,  and  possibly  attend  some  church  ?" 

This  plan  was  approved.  Breakfast  over, 
the  Harris  family  entered  a  carriage,  and 
the  coachman,  with  Jean  by  his  side,  drove 
through  Washington  Square,  under  the 
American  Arch  of  Triumph,  and  out  Fifth 
Avenue,  the  fashionable  street  of  New 
York.  Alfonso  acted  as  guide.  "This  white 
sepulchral  looking  building  on  the  left  at 
the  corner  of  34th  street  is  where  A.  T. 
Stewart,  the  Irish  merchant  prince,  lived." 

Gertrude  remarked,  "How  true  in  his 
case,  the  proverb  'Kiches  certainly  make 
themselves  wings;  they  fly  away,  as  an 
eagle  towards  heaven.'  " 

"You  should  quote  Scripture  correctly, 
my  child,"  said  the  mother.  "  ' Riches  take 
wings. ' 

"No,  no,  mamma — I  am  sure  that  I  am 
right.  i Hiches  make  themselves  wings'  and 


Hugh  Searles  of  London  Arrives      29 

the  proverb  is  as  true  today  as  in  Solo 
mon's  time." 

' t Well,  Gertrude,  we  will  look  at  the 
hotel  Bible  on  our  return. " 

"Yes,  mamma,  if  the  hotel  has  one." 

Colonel  Harris  responded,  "I  think 
Gertrude  is  right.  Stewart's  millions  have 
changed  hands.  Dead  men  have  no  need 
of  dollars.  No  wonder  Stewart's  bones  were 
restless. ' ' 

' '  Here  at  West  39th  Street  is  the  sumpt 
uous  building  of  the  Union  League  Club. 
It  has  over  1500  members,  all  pledged  to 
absolute  loyalty  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  to  resist  every  attempt 
against  the  integrity  of  the  nation,  and 
to  promote  reform  in  national,  state,  and 
municipal  affairs.  The  club  equipped  and 
sent  two  full  regiments  to  the  front  in  the 
Civil  War." 

Alfonso  pointed  out  Jay  Gould's  old 
residence,  more  club  houses,  libraries,  the 
Windsor  Hotel,  Dr.  Hall's  handsome  Pres 
byterian  Church,  and  the  brown  stone  and 
marble  palaces  of  the  Vanderbilt  family, 
two  miles  of  splendid  residences  and  mag 
nificent  churches  before  you  reach  Central 
Park  at  59th  Street. 

The  walks  were  thronged  with  beautiful 


30      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

women  and  well  dressed  men.  It  was  now 
10:30  o'clock.  The  chimes  had  ceased  their 
hallowed  music.  People  of  all  nationalities 
were  jostling  each  other  in  their  haste  to 
enter  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  a  copy  of  the 
Gothic  masterpiece  in  Cologne,  and  the 
most  imposing  church  building  in  America. 

The  Harris  carriage  stopped;  Lucille 's 
heart  suddenly  began  to  beat  quickly,  for 
she  saw  Leo  Colonna  hastening  from  the 
Cathedral  steps  towards  the  carriage. 
"Good  morning,  Mrs.  Harris!  Glad  you 
have  come  to  my  church,"  Leo  said;  then 
taking  her  hand  cordially,  he  added,  "And 
you  have  brought  the  family.  Well,  I  am 
pleased,  for  you  could  not  have  come  to  a 
more  beautiful  church  or  service." 

As  Leo  conducted  his  friends  up  the 
granite  steps,  all  were  enthusiastic  in  their 
praise  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  facade;  white 
marble  from  granite  base  to  the  topmost 
stones  of  the  graceful  twin  spires. 

All  passed  under  the  twelve  apostles, 
that  decorate  the  grand  portal,  and  entered 
the  cathedral.  The  interior  is  as  fine  as 
the  exterior.  The  columns  are  massive,  the 
ceiling  groined;  the  style  is  the  decorated 
or  geometric  architecture,  that  prevailed 
in  Europe  in  the  thirteenth  century.  The 


Hugh  Searles  of  London  Arrives      31 

cardinal's  gothic  throne  is  on  the  right. 
The  four  altars  are  of  carved  French  wal 
nut,  Tennessee  marble  and  bronze.  Half  of 
the  seventy  windows  are  memorials,  given 
by  parishes  and  individuals  in  various 
parts  of  America.  The  vicar-general  was 
conducting  services.  His  impressive  man 
ner,  aided  by  the  sweet  tones  of  singers  and 
organ,  and  the  sun's  rays  changed  to  rain 
bows  by  the  stained-glass  windows,  pro 
duced  a  deep  religious  feeling  in  the  hearts 
of  the  several  thousand  persons  present. 

As  the  party  left  the  church,  Leo  said, 
"In  1786,  the  Kings  of  France  and  Spain 
contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  first 
cathedral  church,  St.  Peter's,  in  New 
York."  The  Harrises  having  invited  Leo 
to  dinner,  said  good-bye  to  him,  and  in 
their  carriage  returned  to  the  Waldorf  for 
lunch. 

While  the  colonel  waited  near  the  recep 
tion- room,  he  chanced  to  look  at  the  stained- 
glass  window  over  the  entrance  to  the 
Garden  Court.  Here  was  pictured  the 
village  of  Waldorf,  the  birthplace  of  the 
original  John  Jacob  Astor.  This  pretty 
little  hamlet  is  part  of  the  Duchy  of  Baden, 
Germany,  and  has  been  lovingly  remem 
bered  in  the  Astor  wills.  Here  formerly 


32      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

lived  the  impecunious  father  of  John  Jacob 
Astor  and  his  brother.  Both  gained  wealth, 
very  likely,  because  the  value  of  money 
was  first  learned  in  the  early  Waldorf 
school  of  poverty.  It  was  not  an  ill  north 
wind  that  imprisoned  young  Astor  for 
weeks  in  the  ice  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay, 
as  there  on  the  small  ship  that  brought  him 
from  Germany,  he  listened  to  marvelous 
tales  of  fortunes  to  be  made  in  furs  in 
the  northwest.  Shrewdly  he  determined 
first  to  acquire  expert  knowledge  of  skins, 
and  on  landing  he  luckily  found  employ 
ment  in  a  fur  store  in  New  York  at  two 
dollars  per  week.  This  knowledge  became 
the  foundation  of  the  vast  fortune  of  the 
Astor  family.  The  colonel  was  told  that 
the  Waldorf  occupies  the  site  of  the  town- 
house  of  John  Jacob  Astor,  third  of  the 
name,  and  was  erected  by  his  son,  William 
Waldorf,  ex-minister  to  Italy. 

It  was  two  o'clock  when  the  Harrises 
entered  the  main  dining-room  for  their 
lunch.  The  colonel  led  the  party,  Alfonso 
conducting  his  sister  Lucille,  the  light 
blue  ribbon  at  her  throat  of  the  tint  of  her 
responsive  eyes.  Mrs.  Harris  came  with 
Gertrude.  The  mother  wore  a  gray  gown, 
and  her  daughter  a  pretty  silk.  This  first 


R 

OF   THP. 

UNIVERSITY 

r.r 


Hugh  Searles  of  London*3rnvvs      33 

entrance  of  the  family  to  the  public  dining- 
room  caused  a  slight  diversion  among  some 
of  the  guests  at  lunch,  where  not  a  few 
rightly  surmised  who  they  were. 

Few  markets  in  the  world  rival  that  of 
New  York.  The  coast,  streams,  and  valleys 
of  New  England  and  the  Central  States, 
send  their  best  food  by  swift  steamers  and 
express,  that  the  exacting  cosmopolitan 
appetite  may  be  satisfied. 

Before  the  lunch  was  over  and  while 
Reuben  Harris  was  making  reference  to 
the  delay  of  his  English  visitor,  the  waiter 
placed  a  white  card  by  his  plate.  The  color 
in  the  colonel 's  face  suddenly  deepened,  as 
he  read  upon  the  card  the  name  of  Mr. 
Hugh  Searles,  representing  Messrs.  Guer- 
ney  &  Barring,  London. 

' '  What 's  the  matter,  Reuben  ? ' '  anxiously 
inquired  Mrs.  Harris. 

"Oh,  nothing,"  said  the  colonel,  "only 
that  our  overdue  English  visitor,  Hugh 
Searles,  has  sent  in  his  card." 

"How  surprising,"  said  Lucille;  "you 
remember,  father,  that  T  said  at  breakfast, 
that  the  weather  was  to  be  fair.  Probably 
the  t Majestic'  quickened  her  speed,  and 
stole  in  unobserved  to  the  docks." 

"I  will  send  him  my  card;"  and  upon 


34     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

it  Mr.  Harris  wrote  in  pencil,  "I  will  soon 
join  you  in  the  reception  room." 

The  black  coffee  disposed  of,  it  was 
agreed  that  all  should  accompany  Colonel 
Harris,  and  give  Mr.  Searles  a  cordial  wel 
come  to  America. 

The  English  agent  was  a  good  sailor, 
and  had  enjoyed  immensely  the  ocean  voy 
age.  Mr.  Searles,  of  late  overworked  in 
England,  was  compelled  on  board  ship  to 
rest  both  mind  and  body.  A  true  English 
man,  Mr.  Searles,  was  very  practical.  He 
comprehended  fully  the  importance  of  his 
mission  to  America,  and  possessed  the  tact 
of  getting  on  in  the  world.  If  the  proposed 
deal  with  Beuben  Harris  was  a  success, 
he  expected,  as  commission  not  less  than 
five  thousand  pounds.  Before  the  "Majes 
tic"  left  the  Mersey,  that  his  mind  might 
be  alert  on  arrival  at  New  York,  he  had 
measured  with  tape  line  the  promenade 
deck  of  the  steamer,  and  resolved  to 
make  enough  laps  for  a  mile,  both  before 
and  after  each  meal,  a  walk  of  six  miles 
per  day,  or  a  total  of  forty-eight  miles  for 
the  voyage. 

A  sturdy  Englishman,  taking  such  vig 
orous  and  methodical  exercise,  created 
some  comment  among  the  passengers,  but 


Hugh  Searles  of  London  Arrives      35 

it  was  excused  on  the  ground  that  English 
men  believe  in  much  out-door  exercise. 
Searles  came  from  a  good  family,  who 
lived  north  of  London  in  Lincolnshire.  His 
father,  the  Hon.  George  Searles,  had  a 
competency,  largely  invested  in  lands,  and 
three  per  cent  consols.  His  rule  of  invest 
ment  was,  security  unquestioned  and 
interest  not  above  three  per  cent,  believing 
that  neither  creditors  nor  enterprise  of  any 
kind,  in  the  long  run,  could  afford  to  pay 
more.  His  ancestors  were  Germans,  who 
crossed  the  German  Ocean,  soon  after  the 
Romans  withdrew  from  England. 

A  large  area  of  Lincolnshire  lies  below 
the  level  of  the  sea,  from  which  it  is  pro 
tected  by  embankments.  This  fenny  district 
gradually  had  been  reclaimed,  and  today 
the  deep  loam  and  peat-soils,  not  unlike 
the  rich  farms  of  Holland,  are  celebrated 
for  their  high  condition  of  agriculture. 
What  mortgages  the  Hon.  George  Searles 
held  were  secured  upon  Lincolnshire 
estates,  some  of  England's  best  lands. 

Hugh  Searles,  his  son,  however,  had 
known  only  London  life  since  he  graduated 
from  Cambridge.  His  office  was  in  Chan 
cery  Lane,  and  his  surroundings  and  teach 
ings  had  been  of  the  speculative  kind,  hence 


36     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

he  was  a  fit  agent  for  his  firm.  Already 
he  had  acquired  a  sunny  suburban  home  in 
Kent,  and  was  ambitious  to  hold  a  seat  in 
Parliament.  As  he  walked  the  steamer's 
deck,  he  looked  the  typical  Englishman, 
five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  broad  shoul 
ders  and  full  chest;  his  weight  about  two 
hundred  pounds,  or  "fifteen  stones"  as 
Searles  phrased  it. 

His  face  was  round  and  ruddy,  his  beard 
closely  cut,  and  his  hair  light  and  fine, 
indicating  quality.  His  step  was  firm,  and 
he  seemed  always  in  deep  study.  When 
addressed  by  his  fellow  passengers  how 
ever,  he  was  courteous,  always  talked  to 
the  point  in  his  replies,  and  was  anxious 
to  learn  more  of  America,  or  as  he  ex 
pressed  it, 1 1 of  the  Anglo-Saxon  confedera 
tion."  He  was  very  proud  of  his  Anglo- 
Saxon  origin,  and  Empire,  and  believed  in 
the  final  Anglo-Saxon  ascendancy  over  the 
world. 

On  board  ship  were  several  young  Eng 
lishmen,  who  were  on  their  return  to 
various  posts  of  duty.  Three  were  buyers 
for  cotton  firms  in  Liverpool  and  Man 
chester,  and  they  were  hastening  back  to 
Norfolk,  Va.,  Memphis,  and  New  Orleans. 
Two  of  the  passengers  were  English  offi- 


Hugh  Searles  of  London  Arrives      37 

cers,  returning  to  their  commands  in  far 
away  Australia.  Others,  like  Searles,  were 
crossing  the  Atlantic  for  the  first  time  in 
search  of  fame  and  fortune.  These  adven 
turous  Englishmen  thought  it  fine  sport 
as  the  "Majestic  "sighted  Fire  Light  Island 
to  join  the  enthusiastic  Americans  in  sing 
ing  "America."  So  heartily  did  they  sing, 
that  the  Americans  in  turn,  using  the  same 
tune,  cordially  sang t  i  God  save  the  Queen. ' ' 

At  first  Hugh  Searles  was  a  little  dis 
concerted,  when  the  whole  Harris  family 
approached  him  in  the  Waldorf  reception- 
room.  Colonel  Harris  cordially  extended 
his  hand,  and  said,  "Mr.  Searles,  we  are 
all  glad  to  meet  you,  and  bid  you  hearty 
welcome  to  America.  Please  let  me  make 
you  acquainted  with  my  wife,  Mrs.  Harris, 
my  daughters,  Gertrude  and  Lucille,  and 
my  son,  Alfonso." 

"An  unexpected  greeting  you  give  me, 
Colonel  Harris,"  said  Hugh  Searles,  as  he 
gave  each  person  a  quick  hand-shake, 
thinking  that  to  be  an  American  he  must 
grasp  hands  cordially. 

The  family  were  much  interested  in  the 
details  of  Mr.  Searles 's  voyage,  as  they 
expected  soon  to  be  en  route  for  Europe. 
Mr.  Searles  said, '  *  The  cause  of  the  '  Ma jes- 


38      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

tic's'  delay  was  a  broken  propeller  in 
rough  seas  off  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland. 
I  am  glad  to  reach  New  York."  He  had 
arrived  at  the  Hotel  at  ten  o'clock  and 
already  had  been  to  lunch. 

Mr.  Searles  gladly  accepted  an  invita 
tion  from  Colonel  Harris  for  a  drive,  Mrs. 
Harris  and  Lucille  to  accompany  them. 
Searles  expressed  a  wish  to  see  the  famous 
Roebling  suspension  bridge,  so  the  coach 
man  drove  first  down  Broadway  to  the  post 
office,  then  past  the  great  newspaper  build 
ings,  and  out  upon  the  marvelous  highway 
or  bridge  suspended  in  the  air  between 
New  York  and  Brooklyn.  When  midway, 
Mr.  Searles  begged  to  step  out  of  the 
carriage,  and  putting  his  arms  around  one 
of  the  four  enormous  cables,  inquired  of 
Colonel  Harris  how  these  huge  cables  were 
carried  over  the  towers. 

Colonel  Harris  explained  that  each  cable 
was  composed  of  over  five  thousand  steel 
wires,  and  that  a  shuttle  carried  the  wire 
back  and  forth  till  the  requisite  strength 
of  cables  was  obtained.  The  expense  of  the 
bridge  was  about  $15,000,000,  which  the 
two  cities  paid.  Its  great  utility  had  been 
abundantly  proved  by  the  repeated  neces 
sity  of  enlarging  the  approaches. 


Hugh  Searles  of  London  Arrives      39 

The  drive  to  the  Central  Park  was  up 
Fifth  Avenue,  home  of  America's  multi 
millionaires.  An  unending  cavalcade  of 
superb  family  equipages  was  passing 
through  the  entrance  at  59th  Street.  Colonel 
Harris  explained  that  "Central  Park  had 
been  planted  with  over  half  a  million  trees, 
shrubs  and  vines,  and  that  which  was  once 
a  waste  of  rock  and  swamp,  had  by  skill 
of  enthusiastic  engineers  and  landscape 
gardeners  blossomed  into  green  lawns, 
shady  groves,  vine-covered  arbors,  with 
miles  of  roads  and  walks,  inviting  expanses 
of  water,  picturesque  bits  of  architecture, 
and  scenery,  that  rival  the  world's  parks. " 

The  ride  and  comments  of  Mr.  Searles 
afforded  the  Harris  family  an  opportunity 
to  study  their  guest,  and  on  returning  to 
the  hotel,  all  agreed  that  Hugh  Searles  was 
thoroughly  equipped  to  protect  his  English 
patrons  in  any  deal  that  he  might  decide 
to  make.  It  was  planned  that  all  should 
dine  together  at  eight,  and  Leo  was  to 
join  the  party  by  invitation  of  Lucille. 

Evidently  the  Harrises  were  well  pleased 
with  their  English  visitor,  but  their  pleas 
ure  was  also  quickened  with  the  bright 
prospect  of  several  millions  of  English 
money  for  their  manufacturing  interest. 


40     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Then  after  their  visit  to  Europe  might  fol 
low  the  long  looked-for  residence  in 
delightful  New  York.  Already  rich  Ameri 
cans,  famous  authors  and  artists  gravitate 
as  naturally  to  this  new  world  metropolis, 
as  the  world's  elite  to  London  and  Paris. 


CHAPTER  III 

A  BAD  SEND-OFF 

IT  was  almost  eight  o'clock  when  the  din 
ner  party  assembled  in  the  reception-room 
of  the  Waldorf.  Leo  was  first  to  arrive, 
and  Lucille  was  there  to  receive  him.  At 
ten  minutes  of  eight,  solicitor  Hugh  Searles 
came ;  then  entered  Colonel  Harris  and  his 
daughters,  Alfonso  following  with  his 
mother.  Mrs.  Harris  wore  a  black  satin 
dress  with  jet  trimmings  and  Van  Dyke 
lace.  Lucille 's  dress  of  light  blue  faille  silk, 
garnished  with  pearls  and  guipure  lace, 
was  very  becoming.  Leo  so  told  Lucille, 
and  she  thanked  him  but  hid  behind  her 
lips  the  thought  that  Leo  never  before 
seemed  half  so  manly.  Mr.  Searles  evi 
dently  admired  Leo,  and  he  talked  to  him 
of  Italy's  greatness  in  literature  and  art. 
He  sat  at  Colonel  Harris's  right,  opposite 
Mrs.  Harris.  Leo  and  Lucille  occupied 
seats  at  the  end  of  the  table,  and  at  their 
right  and  left  sat  Alfonso  and  Gertrude. 
Guests  of  the  hotel  and  their  friends 


42      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

chatted  in  low  conversation  at  the  many 
tables  of  the  model  dining-room.  Electric 
lights  shone  soft  in  the  ceiling,  and  under 
pretty  shades  at  each  table,  which  added 
much  to  the  general  effect. 

Long  before  the  sweets  and  fruits  were 
reached,  the  conversation  had  drifted  from 
one  conventional  topic  to  another,  until 
Mrs.  Harris  asked  Hugh  Searles  what  he 
thought  of  higher  education  for  women. 

"Yes,  yes,  Mr.  Searles,"  said  Gertrude, 
"please  tell  us  all  about  the  English  girl." 

".Does  she  go  to  college,  and  does  she 
ride  a  bicycle?"  queried  Lucille. 

Mrs.  Harris  was  eager  to  listen  to  the 
Englishman's  reply  for  often  she  had 
earnestly  talked  the  matter  over  in  her 
home.  Mr.  Searles  was  very  frank  in  his 
views,  and  surprisingly  liberal  for  an  Eng 
lishman,  and  well  he  might  be,  for  his 
own  mother  was  a  power,  and  his  sisters 
were  strong  mental  forces  in  Lincolnshire. 
Aided  by  tutors  and  their  scholarly  mother, 
they  had  pursued  at  home,  under  difficul 
ties,  about  the  same  course  of  studies,  that 
Hugh,  their  brother,  had  followed  in  the 
university. 

Searles  believed  that  absolute  freedom 
should  be  given  to  women  to  do  anything 


A  Bad  Send-off  43 

they  wished  to  do  in  the  world,  provided 
they  could  do  it  as  well  as  men,  and  that 
nobody  had  any  right  to  assert  they  should 
not. 

Colonel  Harris,  even  for  a  business  man, 
was  also  advanced  in  his  ideas.  He  had 
advocated  for  his  daughters  that  they 
should  possess  healthy  bodies  and  minds, 
and  be  able  to  observe  closely  and  reason 
soundly. 

Lucille  said  that  she  favored  an  educa 
tion  which  would  best  conserve  and  en 
large  woman's  graces,  her  delicate  feeling 
and  thought,  and  her  love  for  the  beauti 
ful. 

Then  Leo  and  Alfonso  both  declared 
that  Lucille  had  expressed  fully  their  own 
opinions. 

Colonel  Harris  added,  "Come,  Gertrude, 
tell  us  what  you  think. " 

Her  face  flushed  a  little  as  she  replied, 
for  she  felt  all  that  she  said,  "Father,  T 
like  what  Mr.  Searles  has  told  us.  I  think 
higher  education  for  women  should  de 
velop  purity  of  heart,  self-forgetfulness, 
and  enlarged  and  enriched  minds." 

"Well  spoken,  daughter, "  said  Colonel 
Harris.  "Now,  dear,  what  have  you  to 
say?" 


44     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Mrs.  Harris  had  listened  well,  as  she 
had  been  a  slave  in  the  interests  of  her 
children,  especially  of  her  daughters.  She 
thought  that  the  last  twenty-five  years  had 
proved  that  women  in  physical  and  intel 
lectual  capacity  were  ahle  to  receive  and 
profit  by  a  college  education.  Often  she 
had  longed  for  the  same  training  of  mind 
that  men  of  her  acquaintance  enjoyed.  The 
subject  was  thus  discussed  with  profit,  till 
the  Turkish  coffee  was  served.  Closing 
the  discussion,  Searles  thought  that  Amer 
ica  led  England  in  offering  better  educa 
tion  to  woman,  but  that  England  had  given 
her  more  freedom  in  politics ;  the  English 
woman  voted  for  nearly  all  the  elective 
officers,  except  members  of  Parliament. 
He  believed  that  the  principle  of  education 
of  woman  belonged  to  her  as  a  part  of 
humanity;  that  it  gave  to  her  a  self- 
centered  poise,  that  it  made  her  a  compe 
tent  head  of  the  home,  where  the  family 
is  trained  as  a  unit  of  civilization. 

He  felt  that  woman  possessed  the  finest 
and  highest  qualities,  and  that  it  was  her 
mission  to  project  and  incorporate  these 
elevating  qualities  into  society.  He  thought 
man  had  nothing  to  fear  or  lose,  but  much 
to  gain;  that  to  multiply  woman's  colleges 


A  Bad  Send-off  45 

everywhere,  was  to  furnish  the  twentieth 
century,  or  "Woman's  Century "  as  Victor 
Hugo  called  it,  with  a  dynamic  force,  that 
would  beget  more  blessings  for  humanity 
than  all  previous  centuries. 

Gertrude  thanked  Mr.  Searles  for  what 
he  had  said,  and  the  party  withdrew  to  tho 
Winter  Garden  Cafe,  pretty  with  palms, 
where  Lucille,  Leo,  and  Alfonso  talked  of 
society  matters,  of  art  and  music. 

Gertrude  read  to  her  mother,  while  Hugh 
Searles  and  Colonel  Harris  stepped  out 
side  into  the  gentlemen's  cafe  for  a  smoke, 
as  both  were  fond  of  a  cigar.  There  the 
conversation  naturally  drifted  upon  the 
tariff  question. 

Mr.  Searles  asserted  that  he  favorod 
free  trade,  and  that  he  was  sorry  America 
was  not  as  far  advanced  and  willing 
as  Great  Britain  to  recognize  the  uni 
versal  and  fundamental  principle  of  the 
brotherhood  of  mankind,  and  the  inborn 
right  of  everybody  to  trade  as  he  liked  in 
the  world's  cheapest  markets.  He  added 
that  he  sometimes  felt  that  Americans 
were  too  selfish,  too  much  in  love  with  the 
vulgar  dollar. 

Colonel  Harris,  wounded  in  his  patriot 
ism,  now  showed  that  he  was  a  little  dis- 


46     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

turbed.  He  thanked  Searles  for  his  deep 
interest  in  Americans,  adding,  "We  are 
glad  you  have  come  to  study  Americans 
and  America."  Then  looking  the  English 
man  full  in  the  face  he  said,  "Mr.  Searles, 
you  will  find  human  nature  much  the  same 
wherever  you  travel.  Nations  usually  strive 
to  legislate,  each  for  its  own  interest.  You 
say,  '  Americans  work  for  the  almighty 
dollar.'  So  they  do,  and  earnestly  too,  but 
our  kith  and  kin  across  the  sea  worship 
with  equal  enthusiasm  the  golden  sover 
eign.  Look  at  the  monuments  to  protection 
in  your  own  city." 

"What  monuments!"  asked  Searles. 

"Monuments  to  protection  on  all  your 
streets,  built  under  British  tariff  laws. 
Every  stone  in  costly  St.  Paul  Js  Church,  or 
cathedral,  was  laid  by  a  duty  of  a  shilling 
a  ton  on  all  coal  coming  into  London.  A 
shilling  a  ton  profit  on  coal,  mined  in 
America,  would  create  for  us  fabulous 
fortunes.  Selfishness,  Mr.  Searles,  and  not 
brotherly  love,  drove  your  country  to  adopt 
free  trade." 

"I  do  not  agree  with  you,"  said  Mr. 
Searles. 

"  'Tis  true,  and  I  can  prove  it," 
answered  Harris.  By  this  time  several 


A  Bad  Send-off  47 

patrons  of  the  hotel  stood  about  enjoying 
the  tilt  between  tariff  and  free  trade. 

"Give  us  the  proof  then,"  replied 
Searles. 

"To  begin  with,"  said  Harris,  "I  must 
reply  to  your  first  assertion,  for  I  deem 
your  first  statement  a  false  doctrine  that 
4  everybody  has  a  right  to  trade  in  the 
world's  cheapest  markets.'  Nobody  has  a 
right  to  trade  in  the  world's  cheapest  mar 
kets,  unless  the  necessary  and  just  laws 
of  his  own  country,  or  the  country  he 
dwells  in,  permits  it.  Now  as  to  the  much 
abused  ' brotherhood  argument'  let  me 
assert  that,  like  England,  any  nation  may 
adopt  free  trade,  when  it  can  command  at 
least  four  important  things:  cheap  labor, 
cheap  capital,  and  cheap  raw  material. 
Now  Mr.  Searles,  what  is  the  fourth 
requisite?" 

Searles  did  not  answer.  Clearly,  he  was 
interested  in  Harris's  novel  line  of  argu 
ment  for  free  trade. 

"Well,"  said  Harris,  "England  is  in 
habited  by  a  virile  people,  who  evidently 
believe  in  God's  command  to  'Be  fruitful, 
and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth,  and 
subdue  it.'  England,  with  her  centuries  of 
rising  civilization,  her  charm  of  landscape, 


48     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

and  her  command  of  the  world's  affairs, 
offers  at  home  magnificent  attractions  for 
her  sons  and  daughters,  that  make  them 
loyal  and  law-abiding  citizens. 

"It  is  true  that  annually  many  thou 
sands  seek  fame  and  fortune  in  new  coun 
tries,  but  most  of  her  citizens  prefer  pov 
erty  even,  and,  if  need  be,  poverty  in  the 
gutters  of  her  thriving  cities,  to  a  home  of 
promise  in  distant  lands.  Hence,  a  rapidly 
increasing  and  dense  population  obtains 
in  all  the  British  Isles,  and  labor  becomes 
abundant  and  cheap,  and  often  a  drug  in 
the  market.  The  repeal  of  the  Corn  Laws 
first  became  a  necessity,  then  a  fact,  and 
the  cheaper  food  made  cheaper  labor  pos 
sible.  Lynx-eyed  capital,  in  the  financial 
metropolis  of  the  world,  was  quick  to  dis 
cover  surplus  labor. 

"Already  English  inventors  had  made 
valuable  inventions  in  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron,  cotton,  woolen  and 
other  goods,  which  further  cheapened  labor 
and  the  product  of  labor. 

"England  with  cheap  capital  and  cheap 
labor,  now  had  two  of  the  four  things 
needed  to  enable  her  to  go  forward  to 
larger  trade  with  the  world.  The  third 
requisite, cheap  and  abundant  raw  material, 


UNIVERSITY 


A  Bad  Send-o  49 


she  also  secured.  Material,  not  furnished 
from  her  own  mines  and  soils,  was  brought 
in  plentiful  supply  at  nominal  freights,  or 
as  ballast,  by  her  vessels,  whose  sails  are 
spread  on  every  sea. 

"For  three  centuries  Great  Britain  has 
vigorously  and  profitably  pursued  Sir  Wal 
ter  Kaleigh's  wise  policy  :  *  Whosoever  com 
mands  the  sea,  commands  the  trade,  who 
soever  commands  the  trade,  commands  the 
riches  of  the  world,  and  consequently  the 
world  itself.' 

"On  the  ceiling  of  the  reading-room  of 
the  Liverpool  Cotton  Exchange  is  painted 
the  pregnant  words:  —  *O  Lord,  how  mani 
fold  are  thy  works,  in  wisdom  hast  thou 
made  them  all  ;  the  earth  is  full  of  thy 
riches.'  Under  divine  inspiration,  there 
fore,  English  capital  seeks  investment 
everywhere,  and  with  cheap  capital,  cheap 
labor,  and  cheap  raw  materials,  she  finds 
herself  able  to  compete  successfully  with 
the  world.  It  is  possibly  pardonable  then 
that  the  British  manufacturer  and  poli 
tician  should  seek  earnestly  the  fourth 
requisite,  viz.,  a  large  market  abroad. 
Hence  the  necessity  of  free  trade. 

"To  advocate  publicly  that  other  nations 
should  adopt  free  trade,  that  England 


50      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

might  have  an  increased  number  of  buyers, 
and  consequently  greater  profit  on  her 
products,  perhaps  would  not  be  judicious; 
so  the  principle  of  free  trade  for  the 
world  at  large  must  be  sugar-coated, 
to  be  acceptable.  Therefore  your  philan 
thropic  and  alert  Richard  Cobden,  and 
John  Bright,  and  your  skilled  writers,  both 
talked  and  wrote  much  about  the  t  brother 
hood  of  mankind, '  hoping  that  the  markets 
of  the  world  might  willingly  open  wide 
their  doors  to  British  traders.  Of  course, 
advocates  of  free  trade  reason  that  the 
larger  the  number  of  buyers  the  larger 
the  prices. 

"Mr.  Searles,  whenever  America  can 
command,  as  Great  Britain  does  to-day, 
cheap  capital,  cheap  labor,  and  cheap  raw 
materials,  she  too  may  vociferously  advo 
cate  free  trade,  and  that  other  nations 
shall  open  wide  their  markets  for  the  sale 
of  American  products. 

"Don't  you  see,  Mr.  Searles,  that  pro 
tection  and  free  trade  are  equally  selfish 
and  not  philanthropic  principles'?" 

"Mr.  Harris  you  are  right,"  shouted 
several  of  the  by-standers. 

But  Hugh  Searles  did  not  reply.  Pos 
sibly  because  it  was  late  or,  it  may  be,  he 


A  Bad  Send-off  51 

did  not  wish  to  further  antagonize  Colonel 
Harris  with  whom  he  hoped  in  the  morn 
ing  to  drive  a  good  bargain,  and  it  may 
be  that  he  hoped  some  time  in  America 
to  operate  mills  himself  and  make  money 
under  a  protective  tariff. 

Both  Searles  and  Harris  retired  for  the 
night  with  an  agreement  to  meet  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  talk  over  busi 
ness.  Searles  rose  with  the  sun,  and  after 
eggs,  bacon,  and  tea,  he  walked  to  the 
Battery  and  back,  before  nine,  the  ap 
pointed  hour  for  his  first  business  confer 
ence  with  Eeuben  Harris. 

A  good  sleep  had  refreshed  Colonel 
Harris  and  at  breakfast  he  appeared  in 
a  joking  mood.  While  he  smoked,  he  glanced 
at  the  Tribune  and  again  examined 
Searles 's  letter  of  introduction  from 
Messrs.  Guerney  &  Barring.  At  nine 
o'clock  promptly,  Mr.  Searles  came  and 
Colonel  Harris  exhibited  to  him  a  brief 
statement  of  the  business  of  the  Harris- 
ville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.,  extending  over  the 
last  ten  years,  and  showing  the  company's 
annual  profits. 

"A  very  good  business  your  company 
did,  and  you  made  large  profits,  Colonel 
Harris/'  said  Searles.  "And  am  T  to 


52      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

understand  that  you  have  made  in  your 
statement  a  proper  allowance  for  depre 
ciation  of  values  in  buildings  and  machin 
ery,  also  for  all  losses  and  cost  of  insur 
ance,  and  that  after  these  deductions  are 
made  the  company's  net  profits  annually 
amounted  to  an  average  of  over  one  hun 
dred  thousand  pounds,  or  a  half  million 
dollars  I" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  colonel. 

And  Mr.  Searles  remarked,  "Colonel 
Harris,  if  your  arguments  last  evening 
did  not  fully  convert  me  to  the  decided 
advantage  which  Americans  gain  by  pro 
tection,  this  statement  of  the  Harris ville 
Iron  &  Steel  Co.  does.  A  year  ago,  some 
Americans  in  London  called  our  attention 
to  your  profitable  plant,  hence  our  first 
letter  of  inquiries.  Your  replies  confirmed 
the  report  and  so  we  cabled  for  this  initial 
meeting  between  us. 

"Messrs.  Guerney  &  Barring  have  been 
most  successful  in  financiering  some  of 
the  largest  business  interests  in  the  world, 
and  thus  they  have  achieved  a  splendid 
reputation.  It  was  their  wish  that  I  should 
secure  for  them  your  most  favorable  terms 
with  an  option  of  purchase  of  your  plant, 
the  same  to  hold  good  for  two  months,  or 


A  Bad  Send-off  53 

for  a  sufficient  length,  of  time  to  allow  them 
to  organize  a  syndicate,  and  float  neces 
sary  debentures  to  buy  the  stock,  or  a 
controlling  interest  in  your  company,  and 
so  continue  the  business. ' ' 

"Mr.  Searles,  we  Americans  are  not 
anxious  to  sell,  especially  to  foreigners, 
our  best  paying  concerns.  We  ought  to 
keep  them  under  our  own  control.  How 
ever,  of  late,  I  have  been  inclined  to  indulge 
my  family  in  a  little  foreign  travel,  and 
myself  in  more  leisure  for  books,  and  pos 
sibly  for  politics,  believing  that  not  enough 
of  our  good  citizens  enter  Congress.  I 
might,  on  certain  conditions,  name  a  price 
for  all  the  stock  of  the  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co. " 

"Please  state  the  price  and  the  condi 
tions.  ' ' 

"Well,  let  me  think  a  moment.  The  cap 
ital  stock  of  the  company  is  not  now  as 
large  as  it  should  be. 

Total  Capital  Stock  .  .  $2,000,000 
Par  value  of  shares  .  .  100 

Present  Value  per  Share,  .         .  300 

"The  entire  property  and  good-will  of 
the  Company  is  worth  at  least  $6,000,000, 
and  my  "fixed  price,"  as  the  English  say, 
is  $5,000,000." 


54      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Mr.  Searles  looked  puzzled,  for  he  had 
hoped  to  get  the  stock  for  less  money.  He 
hesitated,  as  if  in  deep  study,  but  not  long, 
for  he  believed  that,  if  the  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co.  for  ten  successive  years  could 
pay  $500,000  or  an  average  annual  dividend 
of  25%  on  its  stock  of  $2,000,000,  the 
plant  re-organized  could  easily  be  mar 
keted  at  a  neat  advance,  say  for  £1,400,000 
or  $7,000,000,  in  London,  where  even  sound 
3%  investments  are  eagerly  sought;  so 
Mr.  Searles  inquired  again : ' i  Colonel  Har 
ris,  you  omitted  to  state  your  conditions. " 
Harris  answered,  "I  must  have  cash 
enough  to  guarantee  the  sale,  and  short 
time  payments  for  the  balance. ' ' 

"Well,  Colonel  Harris,  how  would  the 
following  terms  please  you? 

One-eighth    cash        .        .        .  $625,000 

One-eighth  30  days     .        .        .  625,000 

One-fourth  60  days     .        .        .  1,250,000 

One-fourth  90  days  .        .        .  1,250,000 
One-fourth,  Preferred   Shares, 

6%  dividends  guaranteed  1,250,000 


Total  price  named      .        .     5,000,000 

"Colonel   Harris,    before   you   answer, 
please  let  me  outline  our  London  plan. 


A  Bad  Send-off  55 

Suppose  I  should  take  for  Messrs.  Guerney 
&  Barring  a  contract,  or  option  of  purchase 
on  the  property  with  payments  as  named, 
the  purchase  to  be  conditioned  upon  a  veri 
fication  of  the  correctness  of  your  state 
ments.  Our  experts  can  examine  and  report 
soon  on  your  accounts  for  ten  years  back, 
and  on  buildings, machinery,  stock  on  hand, 
land,  etc." 

"Mr.  Searles,  please  explain  further 
your  'London  plan'  of  reorganization." 

"Colonel  Harris,  we  would  modify  the 
old  firm  name,  so  as  to  read — '  The  Harris- 
ville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.,  Limited,  of  London, 
England,'  and  capitalize  it  at  £1,400,000, 
or  $7,000,000. 

Par  value  of  shares  .  .  £20  or  $100 
Number  of  shares  .  .  70,000 

"When  our  experts  shall  have  verified 
your  statements  at  Harrisville,  then  the 
option  of  purchase  is  to  be  signed  by  us 
and  forwarded  to  London,  where  it  will  be 
signed  by  Messrs.  Guerney  &  Barring,  the 
first  payment  made,  and  the  contract  under 
written  or  guaranteed  by  the  Guardian, 
Executor  &  Trust  Association,  Limited,  of 
London,  whose  capital  is  $5,000,000.  The 
association  will  also  underwrite  the  bonds 


56      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

and  preference  shares.  This  will  practi 
cally  complete  the  purchase." 

' 'But  what  about  the  last  one-fourth  pay 
ment  in  preferred  shares  of  $1,250,000  ?" 

"Pardon  me,  Colonel  Harris,  that  is  just 
what  I  desire  to*  explain  further.  The  new 
company  will  issue  debentures  or  bonds, 
running  30  years,  at  4%,  for  £800,000  or 
$4,000,000;  preference  shares  £400,000  or 
$2,000,000;  with  dividends  6%  guaranteed, 
and  a  preference  in  distribution  of  prop 
erty,  if  company  is  dissolved.  Ordinary 
shares  £1,200,000  or  $6,000,000.  And  our 
London  prospects  will  show  that  the  ordi 
nary  shares  can  earn  at  least  5%.  For  the 
last  one-fourth  we  wish  you  to  take  12,500 
preferred  shares,  or  $1,250,000. 

"London  holders,  of  course,  will  elect 
all  the  officers,  a  managing  board  of  direc 
tors,  with  general  office  in  London.  For  a 
time  they  will  expect  you  to  advise  in  the 
management  of  the  business  at  Harris- 
ville." 

After  some  further  explanations,  Harris 
agreed  to  sign  a  contract  or  option  of 
purchase,  drawn  as  specified,  if  after  inves 
tigation,  he  should  become  satisfied  with 
the  responsibility  of  the  London  parties. 
On  Tuesday  morning,  contracts  in  dupli- 


A  Bad  Send-off  57 

cates  were  presented  for  Coloiiel  Harris's 
inspection.  After  twice  carefully  reading 
the  contract,  he  gave  his  approval  and 
wrote  Mr.  Searles  a  letter  of  introduction 
to  Mr.  B.  C.  Wilson,  his  manager  at  Harris- 
ville,  requesting  the  latter  to  permit  Mr. 
Searles  and  his  experts  to  examine  all 
property  and  accounts  of  the  Harrisville 
Iron  &  Steel  Co.  for  ten  years  back. 

It  was  also  arranged  that  on  Wednesday, 
at  12  o'clock  noon,  Mr.  Searles  should  see 
the  Harrises  off  to  Europe,  then  Mr. 
Searles  and  his  experts  were  to  go  to 
Harrisville  in  Colonel  Harris's  private 
car.  Later  Mr.  Searles  and  Colonel  Harris 
were  to  meet  in  London,  and  then,  if  every 
thing  was  mutually  satisfactory,  all  parties 
were  to  affix  their  signatures  to  the  agree 
ment,  and  the  cash  payment  was  to  be  made 
at  the  London  office  of  Guerney  &  Barring. 

Wednesday,  Colonel  Harris  rose  early 
as  had  been  his  habit  from  childhood.  He 
was  exacting  in  his  family,  and  also  as  a 
manager  of  labor.  Every  morning  at  six 
o'clock  all  the  family  had  to  be  at  the 
breakfast  table.  Colonel  Harris  always 
asked  the  blessing.  Its  merit  was  its  brev 
ity:  sometimes  he  only  said — "Dear  Lord, 
make  us  grateful  and  good  today.  Amen." 


58      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Thirty  minutes  later,  summer  and  winter, 
his  horses  and  carriage  stood  at  his  door, 
and  punctually  at  fifteen  minutes  of  seven 
o  'clock  he  would  reach  his  great  mills.  His 
first  duty  was  to  walk  through  his  works, 
as  his  skilled  laborers  with  dinner  pails 
entered  the  broad  gates  and  began  the 
day's  work.  Devotion  like  this  usually 
brings  success. 

After  breakfast,  Mrs.  Harris  and  her 
daughters  walked  down  Fifth  Avenue  to 
make  a  few  purchases.  Alfonso  and  Leo 
hurried  off  to  get  their  baggage  to  the 
"Majestic,"  while  Jean  busied  himself  in 
seeing  that  a  transfer  was  made  to  the 
steamer  of  all  the  trunks,  valises,  etc.,  left 
at  the  depot  and  hotel. 

At  ten  o'clock  Jean  called  at  the  dock 
to  learn  if  the  half-dozen  steamer  chairs 
and  as  many  warm  blankets  had  arrived, 
and  he  found  everything  in  readiness.  It 
was  10:30  o'clock  when  the  Waldorf  bill 
was  paid,  and  the  good-bye  given.  The 
young  people  were  jubilant,  as  the  long 
hoped-for  pleasure  trip  to  Europe  was 
about  to  be  realized. 

The  carriages  for  the  steamer  could  not 
go  fast  enough  to  satisfy  the  old,  or  the 
young  people.  Several  schoolmates,  artists, 


A  Bad  Send-off  59 

business  and  society  friends  met  them  on 
the  dock.  Many  fashionable  people  had 
already  arrived  to  say  "Bon  Voyage"  to 
the  Harrises  and  to  Leo.  Hundreds  of 
others  had  come  to  see  their  own  friends 
off.  It  was  all  excitement  among  the  pas 
sengers,  and  carriages  kept  coming  and 
going. 

Not  so  with  the  English  officers  and 
sailors  of  the  ' '  Majestic. ' '  They  were  calm 
and  ready  for  the  homeward  passage. 

The  last  mail  bag  had  been  put  aboard, 
and  the  receipts  to  the  government  hur 
riedly  signed.  Mr.  Searles  had  said  good 
bye,  and  last  of  all  to  Colonel  Harris.  As 
the  colonel  went  up  the  gangway,  the  bell 
rang  and  the  cries  "All  aboard"  were 
given.  For  once,  Colonel  Harris  felt  a  sense 
of  great  relief  to  thus  cut  loose  from  his 
business,  and  take  his  first  long  vacation, 
in  twenty-five  years  from  hard  work. 

"Now,  I  shall  have  a  good  time,  and  a 
much  needed  rest,"  he  said.  But  just  as 
he  stepped  into  the  steamer's  dining- 
saloon,  Mr.  Searles,  who  had  hastily  fol 
lowed,  touched  him  on  the  shoulder  and 
said.  "Here,  Colonel  Harris,  is  a  telegram 
for  you. ' ' 

Harris  quickly  tore  it  open.  It  was  from 


60      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Wilson,  his  manager,  and  it  read  as  fol 
lows  : — 

HAKKISVILLE,  June  9,  18 — . 
Colonel  Reuben  Harris, 

Steamer  Majestic,  New  York. 

Our  four  thousand  men  struck  this  morn 
ing  for  higher  wages.  What  shall  we  do? 

B.  C.  WILSON. 

Harris  was  almost  paralyzed.  His  wife 
and  daughters  ran  to  him.  The  steamer's 
big  whistle  was  sounding.  All  was  now  con 
fusion.  There  was  only  a  moment  to  decide, 
but  Harris  proved  equal  to  the  situation. 
He  stepped  to  the  purser,  surrendered  his 
passage  ticket,  kissed  his  wife  and  two 
daughters,  saying  to  his  son,  "  Alfonso, 
take  charge  of  the  party  as  I  go  back  to 
Harrisville. ' ' 

Gertrude,  insisting,  accompanied  her 
father,  and  remained  ashore.  On  the  dock 
stood  Colonel  Harris,  Gertrude,  and  Mr. 
Searles,  all  three  waving  their  white  hand 
kerchiefs  to  Mrs.  Harris,  Lucille,  Alfonso, 
and  Leo.  What  a  bad  send-off! 

The  best  laid  schemes  o?  mice  an'  men, 

Gang  aft  a-gley, 
And  leave  us  nought  but  grief  and  pain, 

For  promised  joy. 


A  Bad  Send-off  61 

The  Harrises  on  the  steamer,  and  the 
Harrises  on  the  pier  had  heavy  hearts, 
especially  Colonel  Harris  and  Gertrude  so 
suddenly  disappointed.  It  was  soon  agreed 
that  the  three  should  start  that  evening 
for  Harrisville. 


CHAPTER  IV 

ABOAED  THE  S.S.  MAJESTIC 

MRS.  HARRIS  was  naturally  a  brave 
woman,  but  the  telegram,  and  the  sudden 
separation  perhaps  forever  from  her  hus 
band  and  Gertrude,  unnerved  her.  She 
sank  back  into  an  easy  chair  on  the 
steamer,  murmuring,  "Why  this  terrible 
disappointment!  Why  did  I  not  turn  back 
with  my  husband?  This  is  worse  than 
death.  Mr.  Harris  is  in  great  trouble.  Why 
did  I  not  at  once  sacrifice  all  and  share 
his  misfortunes'?  How  noble  in  Gertrude 
to  go  ashore  with  her  father.  It  is  just  like 
the  child,  for  she  is  never  happy  except 
when  she  forgets  self,  and  does  for  others. ' ' 

Mrs.  Harris  sobbed  as  if  her  loved  ones 
had  been  left  in  the  tomb.  Lucille  tenderly 
held  her  mother's  hand,  and  spoke  com 
forting  words:  "Cheer  up,  mother,  all  will 
yet  be  well.  Father  can  now  take  Mr. 
Searles  to  Harrisville. ? ' 

6 1  To  see  what,  child — men  misled  and  on 
a  strike  and  the  mills  all  closed  down!  It 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          63 

means  much  trouble,  and  perhaps  disaster 
for  the  Harrises. ' ' 

"Oh,  no,  mother,  all  will  soon  be  well. 
Let  us  go  on  the  deck." 

Alfonso  led  his  mother,  and  Leo  took 
Lucille  up  among  the  passengers. 

They  were  just  in  time  to  see  the  white 
cloud  of  fluttering  handkerchiefs  on  the 
pier.  Leo  said  that  he  could  distinguish 
with  his  field-glass  Colonel  Harris  and 
Gertrude,  and  tears  again  came  into  Mrs. 
Harris's  eyes. 

European  steamers  always  leave  on  time, 
waiting  for  neither  prince  nor  peasant.  A 
carriage  with  foaming  horses  drove  in 
upon  the  pier  as  the  tug  pulled  the  steamer 
out  upon  the  Hudson.  Its  single  occupant 
was  an  English  government  agent  bearing 
a  special  message  from  the  British  embas- 
sador  at  Washington  to  Downing  Street, 
London. 

"Now  what's  to  be  done!"  the  British 
agent  sharply  inquired. 

"Two  pounds,  sir,  and  we  will  put  you 
and  your  luggage  aboard,"  shouted  an 
English  sailor. 

"Agreed,"  said  the  agent,  and  to  the 
surprise  of  everybody  on  the  pier,  two 
robust  sailors  pulled  as  for  their  lives,  and 


64      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

each  won  a  sovereign,  as  they  put  the 
belated  agent  on  board  the  "Majestic." 

This  race  for  a  passage  caught  the  eye 
of  Mrs.  Harris.  At  first  she  thought  that 
the  little  boat  might  contain  her  husband, 
but  as  the  English  agent  came  up  the 
ship's  ladder,  she  grasped  Alfonso's  arm, 
and  said,  "Here,  my  son,  take  my  hand 
and  help  me  quickly  to  the  boat ;  I  will  go 
back  to  Mr.  Harris. ' ' 

c  l  No !  No ! ' '  said  Alfonso, ' i  Look,  mother1, 
the  little  boat  is  already  returning  to  the 
dock."  Later  the:  purser  brought  to  Mrs. 
Harris  an  envelope  containing  the  steamer 
tickets  and  a  purse  of  gold,  which  the 
colonel  thoughtfully  had  sent  by  the  Eng 
lish  agent. 

Mrs.  Harris  re-examined  the  envelope, 
and  found  the  colonel's  personal  card 
which  contained  on  the  back  a  few  words, 
hastily  scribbled:  "Cheer  up  everybody; 
glad  four  of  our  party  are  on  board.  Enjoy 
yourselves.  Gertrude  sends  love.  Later  we 
will  join  you  in  London  perhaps.  God  bless 
you  all.  B.H." 

Sunshine  soon  came  back  to  Mrs.  Har 
ris's  face,  and  she  began  to  notice  the 
people  about  her,  and  to  realize  that  she 
was  actually  on  shipboard.  Foreign  travel 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          65 

had  been  the  dream  of  her  life;  and  she 
felt  comforted  to  have  Alfonso  and  Lucille 
beside  her. 

"Mrs.  Harris,"  said  Leo,  "see  the 
stately  blocks  that  outline  Broadway,  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Building,  the 
Equitable  Building,  the  granite  offices  of 
the  Standard  Oil  Company,  the  Post  Office, 
and  the  imposing  Produce  Exchange  with 
its  projecting  galley-prows.  Above  its  long 
series  of  beautiful  arches  of  terra  cotta 
rise  a  tall  campanile  and  liberty  pole 
from  which  floats  the  stars  and  stripes. ' ' 

Leo's  eyes  kindled  in  brilliancy,  and  his 
voice  quickened  with  patriotism,  as  he  made 
reference  to  his  adopted  flag.  "Lucille, 
behold  our  glorious  flag  that  floats  over 
America's  greatest  financial  and  commer 
cial  city.  I  love  the  stars  and  stripes  quite 
as  much  as  Italy's  flag. 

"Annually  over  thirty  thousand  vessels 
arrive  and  depart  from  this  harbor.  New 
York  is  America's  great  gate- way  for 
immigrants.  In  a  single  year  nearly  a  half 
million  land  at  Castle  Garden.  Sections  of 
New  York  are  known  as  Germany,  Italy, 
China,  Africa,  and  Judea.  The  Hebrews 
alone  in  the  city  number  upwards  of  one 
hundred  thousand,  and  have  nearly  fifty 


66     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

synagogues  and  as  many  millionaires.  The 
trees,  lawns,  and  promenades  along  the 
sea-wall,  form  the  Battery  Park.  The  set 
tees  are  crowded  with  people  enjoying  the 
magnificent  marine  views  before  them." 

Alfonso  pointed  to  the  Suspension  or 
Brooklyn  Bridge  beneath  which  vessels 
were  sailing  on  the  East  River.  Its  enor 
mous  cables  looked  like  small  ropes  sus 
taining  a  vast  traffic  of  cars,  vehicles,  and 
pedestrians. 

To  the  right  of  the  steamer's  track  on 
Bedloe's  Island  stands  Bartholdi's  "Lib 
erty,  Enlightening  the  World, ' '  the  largest 
bronze  statue  on  the  globe.  From  a  small 
guide  book  of  New  York,  Lucille  read 
aloud  that  the  Bartholdi  statue  and  its 
pedestal  cost  one  million  dollars;  that  the 
statue  was  presented  by  the  French  people 
to  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  head 
of  Liberty  is  higher  than  the  tall  steeple 
of  Trinity  Church,  which  is  300  feet  high, 
or  twice  that  of  the  Colossus  of  Rhodes, 
one  of  the  seven  ancient  wonders. 

"Look,"  said  Lucille,  "at  the  uplifted 
right  hand  holding  an  electric  torch.  How 
magnificently  the  statue  stands  facing  the 
Narrows,  the  entrance  from  Europe,  and 
how  cordial  the  welcome  to  America  which 
Liberty  extends. ' ' 


Aboard  the  8.  S.  Majestic          67 

"Yes,"  said  Leo,  "if  you  wish  to  see 
Bartholdi's  noble  mother,  observe  the  face 
of  the  statue.  Bartholdi  owed  much  to  his 
mother's  constant  encouragement." 

"How  true  it  is,"  said  Mrs.  Harris, 
"that  most  great  men  have  had  splendid 
mothers. ' ' 

Many  on  the  deck  thought  of  loved  ones 
at  home,  of  their  country,  and  wondered 
if  they  would  return  again  to  America. 
This  was  true  of  many  aboard  who  were 
now  starting  on  their  first  ocean  voyage, 
and  their  thoughts  no  doubt  were  akin  to 
those  that  filled  the  minds  of  Columbus 
and  his  crew  when  they  left  Palos. 

Craft  of  every  kind  kept  clear  of  the 
giant  "Majestic"  as  she  plowed  down  the 
Narrows.  Historic  but  worthless  old  forts 
are  on  either  side,  and  far  down  into  the 
lower  bay  the  pilot  guides  the  wonderful 
steamer.  Sandy  Hook  lighthouse,  the  low 
shores,  and  purple  mountains  of  New  Jer 
sey  are  left  behind,  as  the  "Majestic"  is 
set  on  her  course  at  full  speed. 

The  gong  for  the  one  o'clock  lunch  was 
sounded,  and  Alfonso,  glad  of  the  change, 
as  his  mother  seemed  unhappy,  led  the 
way  below.  Colonel  Harris,  when  he  bought 
the  tickets,  had  arranged  that  his  family 
should  sit  at  the  captain's  table.  As  Al- 


68     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

fonso  entered  the  saloon,  the  steward  con 
ducted  him  and  his  friends  to  their  seats. 
The  captain's  seat  was  unoccupied  as  he 
was  busy  on  deck.  The  grand  dining-room 
of  the  "Majestic"  is  amidships  on  the 
main  deck.  At  the  three  long  tables  and 
sixteen  short  side  tables,  three  hundred 
persons  can  be  accommodated. 

The  sea  was  smooth,  so  every  chair  was 
taken.  The  scene  was  an  animating  one  and 
interesting  to  study.  A  single  voyage  will 
not  suffice  to  reveal  the  heart  histories  and 
ambitions  of  three  hundred  cosmopolitan 
passengers.  Everybody  was  talking  at  the 
same  time;  all  had  much  to  say  about  the 
experiences  in  reaching  and  boarding  the 
steamer.  Everybody  was  looking  at  every 
body,  and  each  wondered  who  the  others 
might  be. 

So  many  new  faces  which  are  to  be 
studies  for  the  voyage,  arrested  the  atten 
tion  of  Mrs.  Harris.  Her  appetite  was  not 
good,  so  she  ate  little,  but  closely  watched 
the  exhilarating  scenes  about  her.  Many 
wives  had  their  husbands  by  their  sides, 
and  this  pained  her,  but  she  resolved  to 
keep  brave  and  to  make  the  most  of  her 
opportunities.  Lucille  and  the  young  men 
were  so  interested  in  the  pretty  faces  all 
about  them,  that  they  had  little  time  for  an 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          69 

English  luncheon,  and  most  of  their  eating- 
was  a  make-believe. 

Amidship  the  movement  of  the  boat  is 
reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  in  fair  weather 
it  is  difficult  to  realize  that  you  are  out  upon 
the  ocean.  Each  passenger  at  the  table  is 
furnished  with  a  revolving  chair.  Choice 
flowers,  the  gifts  of  loving  friends  left 
behind,  were  on  every  table,  and  their  fra 
grance  converted  the  dining-saloon  into  a 
large  conservatory.  The  Corinthian  col 
umns  were  fluted  and  embossed,  the  walls 
and  ceiling  were  in  tints  of  ivory  and  gold ; 
the  artistic  panels  abounded  in  groups  of 
Tritons  and  nymphs ;  the  ports  were  fitted 
with  stained  glass  shutters,  emblazoned 
with  the  arms  of  cities  and  states  in 
Europe  and  America.  Behind  the  glass 
were  electric  lights,  so  that  the  designs 
were  visible  both  night  and  day. 

Surmounting  this  richly  appointed  sa 
loon  was  a  dome  of  artistic  creation, 
its  stained  glass  of  soft  tints,  which 
sparkled  in  the  warm  sunlight  and  shed 
a  kaleidoscope  of  color  and  design  over 
the  merry  company  of  passengers.  Mirrors 
and  the  gentle  rolling  of  the  steamer  multi 
plied  and  enlarged  the  gorgeous  colorings 
and  perplexing  designs. 

In  the  midst  of  this  new  life  aboard  ship, 


70      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

so  novel  and  so  beautiful,  Mrs.  Harris's 
heart  would  have  been  happy  had  her  over 
worked  husband  and  Gertrude  sat  beside 
her  at  the  table.  Very  little  of  this  life  is 
enjoyed  without  the  unwelcomed  flies  that 
spoil  the  precious  ointment. 

After  the  lunch  Alfonso  and  his  friends 
had  time  to  examine  a  little  further  the 
great  steamer  that  was  to  float  them  to 
the  Old  World.  When  his  party  hurriedly 
entered  the  dining-saloon,  the  grand  stair 
case  was  entirely  overlooked.  How  wide 
and  roomy  it  was,  and  how  beautifully 
carved  and  finished,  especially  the  balus 
trade  and  newel  posts,  the  whole  being 
built  of  selected  white  oak,  which  mellows 
with  age,  and  will  assume  a  richer  hue  like 
the  wainscoting  in  the  famous  old  English 
abbeys  and  manor  houses. 

Again  the  Harris  party  was  on  deck, 
final  words  hastily  written  were  in  the 
steamer's  mail  bag,  and  a  sailor  stood 
ready  to  pass  it  over  the  ship's  side  to  the 
pilot 's  little  boat,  waiting  for  orders  to  cut 
loose  from  the  "Majestic." 

The  engines  slacked  their  speed,  the  pilot 
bade  the  officers  good-bye,  and  accompanied 
the  mail  bag  to  his  trusted  schooner.  No. 
66  was  painted  in  black  full  length  on 


UNIVERSITY 

V     OF 

^^iI;J_Hl^-:" 
Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          71 

the  pilot's  big  white  sail.  All  the  passenger 
steamers  which  enter  or  leave  New  York 
must  take  these  brave  and  alert  pilots  as 
guides  in  and  out  the  ever-changing  harbor 
channels. 

The  gong  in  the  engine-rooms  again  sig 
naled  "full  speed"  and  the  live,  escaping 
steam  was  turned  through  the  triple-expan 
sion  engines,  and  the  "  Majestic "  gathered 
her  full  strength  for  a  powerful  effort,  a 
record-breaking  passage  to  Queenstown. 

The  life  on  board  the  transatlantic  ferry 
is  decidedly  English,  and  Mrs.  Harris 
closely  studied  the  courtesies  and  require 
ments.  She  soon  came  to  like  the  ship's 
discipline  and  matter-of-fact  customs.  The 
young  people,  some  newly  married,  and 
some  new  acquaintances  like  Leo  and  Lu 
cille,  had  moved  their  steamer  chairs  on 
the  deck,  that  they  might  watch  the  return 
of  the  pilot's  boat. 

Loving  letters  were  read,  the  leaves  of 
latest  magazines  were  cut,  and  many  words 
were  exchanged  before  the  big  "  66  "  disap 
peared  entirely  with  the  sun  that  set  in 
gold  and  purple  over  the  low  New  England 
shores. 

Quite  apart  from  the  young  people  sat 
Mrs.  Harris  and  Alfonso.  They  talked 


72     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

earnestly  about  the  ill-timed  strike  of  the 
millmen  at  home.  "Why  did  the  men  strike 
at  the  very  time  when  father  wanted  his 
mills  to  glow  with  activity?"  queried  Mrs. 
Harris. 

"Oh,  mother,"  said  Alfonso,  "that  is 
part  of  labor's  stock  in  trade.  Some  labor 
organizations  argue  that  the  'end  justifies 
the  means.'  Our  men  were  probably  kept 
advised  of  father 's  plans,  and  strikes  often 
are  timed  so  as  to  put  capital  at  the 
greatest  disadvantage,  and  force,  if  pos 
sible,  a  speedy  surrender  to  labor's 
demands.  'Like  begets  like,'  mother,  so  the 
college  professor  told  us  when  he  lectured 
on  Darwin.  It  was  Darwin,  I  think,  who 
emphasized  this  fundamental  principle  in 
nature. 

"See,  mother,  how  this  labor  agitation 
works.  Labor  organizations  multiply  and 
become  aggressive,  and  so  capital  organ 
izes  in  self-defense.  One  day  our  professor 
told  the  class  that  he  much  preferred 
citizenship  in  a  government  controlled  by 
intelligent  capital,  to  the  insecurity  and 
uncertainty  of  ignorant  labor  in  power. 
The  professor  inclined  to  think  that  the 
British  form  of  government  rested  on  a 
more  lasting  basis  than  that  of  republics. 

"Usually  the  more  of  values  a  person 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          73 

possesses,  the  more  anxious  he  is  for  stable 
government.  Labor  has  little  capital,  and 
so  often  becomes  venturesome,  and  is 
willing  to  stake  all  on  the  throw  of  a  die. 
But  labor  in  the  presence  of  open  hungry 
mouths  can  ill  afford  to  take  such  chances. 
Labor  with  its  little  or  no  surplus  should 
act  reasonably,  and  on  the  side  of  conser 
vatism,  or  wives  and  little  ones  suffer. " 

Mrs.  Harris  listened  to  her  son's  com 
ments  on  capital  and  labor,  but  the  inde 
pendence  of  her  race  asserted  itself  and 
she  said  with  emphasis,  "  Alfonso,  I  hope 
Mr.  Harris  will  insist  on  his  rights  at  Har- 
risville. ' ' 

' i  Very  likely  he  will,  mother,  as  he  is 
that  kind  of  a  man,  and  the  New  England 
independence  that  is  born  in  him  is  sure 
to  assert  itself." 

For  a  few  moments  neither  mother  nor 
son  spoke.  Suddenly  both  were  awakened 
from  their  reveries  by  the  call  for  dinner. 
The  waters  were  still  smooth,  and  the 
ocean  breezes  had  sharpened  appetites,  so 
the  grand  staircase  was  crowded  with  a 
happy  throng,  most  of  whom  were  eager 
for  their  first  dinner  aboard  ship.  The 
Harrises  were  delighted  to  find  Captain 
Morgan  already  at  the  table. 

Long  ago  Captain  Morgan  had  learned 


74     Tine  Harris -Ingram  Experiment 

that  wealth  is  power.  His  own  ship  had 
cost  a  million  or  more,  and  England's 
millions  enabled  his  government  to  control 
the  globe.  Not  only  was  he  keenly  alive  to 
the  fact  that  capital  and  brains  guided 
most  human  events,  but  naturally  he 
possessed  the  instincts  of  a  gentleman,  and 
besides  he  was  a  true  Briton.  His  ancestors 
for  generations  had  followed  the  sea  for 
a  livelihood  and  fame.  Some  had  served 
conspicuously  in  the  navy,  and  others  like 
himself  had  spent  long  lives  in  the  com 
mercial  marine. 

In  Lucille 's  eyes  Captain  Morgan  was 
an  ideal  hero  of  the  sea,  He  was  over  six 
feet  in  height,  and  robust  of  form,  weigh 
ing  not  less  than  250  pounds.  His  face  was 
round  and  bronzed  by  the  exposure  of  over 
three  hundred  ocean  passages.  His  closely 
cropped  beard  and  hair  were  iron  gray,  and 
his  mild  blue  eyes  and  shapely  hands  told 
of  inbred  qualities.  That  he  was  possessed 
of  rare  traits  of  character,  it  was  easy  to 
discover.  Loyalty  to  the  great  trusts  con 
fided  to  him,  was  noticeable  in  his  every 
movement.  "Safety  of  ship,  passengers, 
and  cargo, "  were  words  often  repeated, 
whether  the  skies  above  him  were  blue  or 
black. 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          75 

Captain  Morgan  addressing  Mrs.  Harris 
said,  "We  shall  miss  very  much  your  hus 
band's  presence  aboard  ship.  Nowadays 
managers  of  great  enterprises  ashore, 
involving  the  use  of  large  amounts  of 
capital,  encounter  quite  as  many  stormy 
seas  as  we  of  the  Atlantic. ' ' 

"Yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Harris,  "and  the 
causes  of  financial  disturbances  are  fully 
as  difficult  to  divine  or  control." 

"It  was  fortunate,  however,  Mrs.  Har 
ris,  ' '  said  the  captain,  * i  that  word  reached 
the  steamer  in  time  to  intercept  the  Colonel 
so  that  he  could  return  at  once  and  assume 
command  of  his  business.  Aboard  our  ship, 
you  must  all  dismiss  every  anxiety  as  to 
matters  at  home  or  on  the  "Majestic." 
With  your  permission,  Colonel  Harris's 
family  shall  be  mine  for  the  passage.  Please 
command  my  services  at  all  times. ' ' 

"Thank  you,"  said  Alfonso,  and  the 
captain's  cordial  words,  like  sunshine, 
dispelled  the  clouds. 

"Captain,"  inquired  Leo,  "do  you  think 
we  shall  have  a  pleasant  voyage?" 

"Yes,  I  hope  so,  for  the  sake  of  those 
aboard  who  are  making  this  their  first 
voyage,  otherwise  we  may  not  have  the 
pleasure  of  much  of  their  company." 


76     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

"Captain  Morgan,  then  you  really 
promise  a  smooth  passage?"  said  Lucille. 

"Oh  no,  Miss  Harris,  we  never  promise 
in  advance  good  weather  on  the  ocean. 
Smooth  water  for  us  old  sailors  is  irksome 
indeed,  yet  I  always  consider  it  very 
fortunate  for  our  passengers,  if  Old 
Probabilities  grant  us  a  day  or  two  of  fair 
skies  as  we  leave  and  enter  port.  With 
gentle  breezes  the  passengers  gradually 
get  possession  of  their  'sea  legs'  as  sailors 
term  it,  and  later  brisk  breezes  are  wel 
comed.  ' ' 

"Captain,  have  you  a  panacea  for  sea 
sickness  ?"  inquired  Mrs.  Harris. 

'  *  Oh,  yes, ' '  he  replied, ' '  take  as  vigorous 
exercise  on  the  ship  as  is  taken  ashore, 
eat  wisely,  observe  economy  of  nerve-force, 
and  be  resolved  to  keep  on  good  terms  with 
Old  Neptune.  Don't  fight  the  steamer's 
movements  or  eccentricities,  but  yield 
gracefully  to  all  the  boat's  motions.  In  a 
word,  forget  entirely  that  you  are  aboard 
ship,  and  the  victory  is  yours." 

"This  is  Wednesday,  Captain,  and  do 
you  really  think  you  will  land  us  in  the 
Mersey  by  Monday  evening?"  Lucille  en 
quired  earnestly. 

"Monday  or  Tuesday  if  all  goes  well," 


Aboard  the  S.  S.  Majestic          77 

the  captain  answered.  Captain  Morgan 
drank  his  coffee,  excused  himself,  and 
returned  to  his  duty  on  the  bridge. 

"What  a  gallant  old  sea-dog  the  captain 
is,"  said  Mrs.  Harris.  "We  shall  feel  per 
fectly  safe  in  his  keeping.  How  cheery  he 
is  away  from  home." 

"How  do  you  know  he  has  a  home, 
mother?" 

"Perhaps  not,  my  dear,  for  he  seems 
really  married  to  his  ship." 

The  Harrises  and  Leo  joined  the  passen 
gers  who  had  now  left  the  dining  saloon. 
The  light  winds  had  freshened  and  the 
skies  were  overcast  and  gave  promise  of 
showers,  if  not  of  a  storm.  After  walking 
a  few  times  around  the  promenade  deck, 
most  of  the  passengers  went  below,  some 
to  the  library,  some  to  the  smoking  room, 
and  some  to  their  staterooms,  perhaps 
thinking  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor. 
The  steamer's  chairs  were  taken  from  the 
deck  and  only  a  few  persons  remained  out 
side.  Some  of  them  were  clad  in  warm 
ulsters.  They  walked  the  usual  half -hour 
Most  of  these  promenaders  were  men  of 
business  who  were  required  to  make  fre 
quent  ocean  passages.  They  were  as 
familiar  with  moistened  decks,  cloudy 


78       The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

skies,  and  heavy  seas  as  the  land-lubbers 
are  with  stone  pavements  and  hotel  corri 
dors. 


CHAPTER  V 

DISCOMFITURES  AT  SEA 

THE  green  and  red  lights  on  the  starboard 
and  port  sides  and  the  white  light  on  the 
foremast  now  burned  brightly.  The  boat 
swain's  shrill  whistle  furled  the  sails 
snugly  to  every  spar,  leaving  the  sailors 
little  time  or  spirit  for  their  usual  song, 
as  barometer-like  they  too  sensed  the 
approaching  storm.  The  ship's  watch  for 
ward  was  increased  as  the  wind  grew 
strong,  and  the  weather  ahead  had  become 
thick  and  hazy. 

The  captain  quickly  left  the  table  when 
the  steward  placed  in  his  hand  a  bit  of 
writing  from  the  first  officer,  which  read, 
"The  barometer  is  falling  rapidly."  Cap 
tain  Morgan  and  an  officer  paced  the  bridge 
with  eyes  alert.  Heavy  clouds  of  smoke 
from  the  triple  stacks  revealed  that  a 
hundred  glowing  furnaces  were  being  fed 
with  fuel,  assistant  engineers  were  busily 
inspecting,  and  oilers  were  active  in  lubri 
cating  the  ponderous  engines  that  every 
emergency  might  be  promptly  met. 


80     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Ports  were  closed  and  every  precaution 
taken.  The  anxiety  of  officers  and  sailors 
and  the  increased  agitation  of  the  sea  was 
soon  noticed  by  the  ship's  gay  company. 
Before  ten  o'clock  most  of  the  passengers 
were  glad  of  the  good-night  excuse  for 
retiring.  The  smoking  room,  however,  was 
crowded  with  devotees  to  the  weed.  Old- 
timers  were  busy  with  cards,  or  forming 
pools  on  the  first  day's  run  from  Sandy 
Hook,  or  speculating  as  to  the  time  of 
arrival  at  Queenstown. 

The  atmosphere  of  the  room  was  as 
thick  as  the  weather  outside.  It  is  no  won 
der  that  a  club  man  of  New  York,  making 
his  first  trip  to  Europe,  inquired  of  his 
Philadelphia  friend,  "Why  do  Americans 
smoke  so  continually?" 

He  answered,  "It  is  easier  to  tell  why 
the  English  drink  tea  and  why  Americans 
drink  coffee.  But  to  answer  your  question, 
I  suppose  the  mixture  of  races  quickens 
the  flow  of  blood  and  produces  the  intense 
activities  we  witness.  Besides,  the  enlarged 
opportunities  offered  in  a  new  and  growing 
country  present  attractive  prizes  in  the 
commercial,  political,  social,  and  religious 
world.  To  attain  these  the  Anglo-Saxon 
blood  rushes  through  arteries  and  veins 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  81 

like  the  heated  blood  in  a  thoroughbred 
horse  on  the  last  quarter.  After  these 
homestretch  efforts  Americans  feel  the 
need  often  of  stimulants,  or  of  a  soporific, 
and  this  they  try  to  find  in  a  cigar." 

4  *  Your  views  are  wrong,  I  think.  One 
would  naturally  infer  that  the  use  of 
tobacco  shortens  life.  Let  me  relate  to  you 
an  incident. 

"I  was  once  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and 
spent  an  evening  at  a  lecture  given  by 
Trask,  the  great  anti-tobacconist.  In  his 
discourse  he  had  reached  the  climax  of  his 
argument,  proving  as  he  thought  that 
tobacco  shortened  life,  when  a  well  dressed 
man  in  the  audience  rose  and  said,  'Mr. 
Trask,  will  you  pardon  me  if  I  say  a  few 
words  ? ' 

"  'Oh,  yes'  said  the  lecturer,  'give  us  the 
facts  only.' 

"  'Well,  Mr.  Trask,  there  is  living  today 
in  Castalia,  southwest  of  here,  a  man 
nearly  a  hundred  years  old  and  he  has 
been  a  constant  user  of  tobacco  since  early 
childhood. ' 

"For  a  moment  Mr.  Trask  stood  non 
plussed.  To  gain  time  for  thought  he  fell 
back  upon  the  Socratic  method,  and  began 
asking  questions,  'Stranger,  won't  you 


82     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

stand  up  again  so  that  the  audience  can 
see  you?  Thank  you!  Evidently  you  are 
an  intelligent  citizen  and  reliable  witness. 
Did  you  say  you  knew  the  man?7 

"  '0  yes,  I  have  known  him  for  over 
fifty  years.' 

"  'Did  you  ever  know  of  his  favoring 
schools  or  churches  by  gifts  or  otherwise  1 ' 

"  'No,'  said  the  stranger. 

"  ' There,'  said  Trask  to  the  audience, 
'this  man's  testimony  only  strengthens 
what  I  have  been  attempting  to  prove  here 
this  evening,  that  tobacco  shortens  life. 
This  Castalia  centenarian  is  dead  to  all 
the  demands  of  society  and  humanity,  and 
his  corpse  should  have  been  buried  half 
a  century  ago.'  So  the  laugh  was  on  the 
voluntary  witness. ' ' 

"Hold  on,  my  friend,  your  Castalia  cen 
tenarian  proves  just  what  I  said  at  the 
outset,  that  the  use  of  tobacco  prolongs 
life,  but  I  am  half  inclined  myself  to  feel 
that  the  less  tobacco  active  Americans  use, 
the  better. ' '  Then  throwing  his  cigar  away, 
he  said  good-night  and  left  the  smoking 
room. 

Others  stacked  their  cards,  smoked  cig 
arettes,  and  then  sought  their  staterooms, 
and  finally  the  ship's  bell  rang  out  the  last 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  83 

patron  and  announced  the  midnight  hour; 
the  steward  was  left  alone.  He  had  been 
unusually  busy  all  the  evening  furnishing 
ale,  porter,  and  beer,  a  few  only  taking 
wine.  The  steward  was  glad  to  complete  his 
report  of  sales  for  the  first  day  out,  and 
turn  off  the  lights  and  seek  his  berth  for 
the  night. 

The  "Majestic"  shot  past  Cape  Cod  and 
was  plowing  her  way  towards  the  banks 
of  Newfoundland.  The  strong  winds  were 
westerly  and  fast  increasing  to  a  moderate 
gale.  The  north  star  was  hidden  and  now 
failed  to  confirm  the  accuracy  of  the  ship's 
compasses. 

The  first  and  fourth  officers  were  pacing 
the  bridge.  The  latter  was  glad  that  the 
engines  were  working  at  full  speed,  as 
every  stroke  of  the  pistons  carried  him 
nearer  his  pretty  cottage  in  the  suburbs  of 
Liverpool.  Captain  Morgan  had  dropped 
asleep  on  the  lounge  in  his  cozy  room  just 
back  of  the  wheel.  Most  of  the  passengers 
and  crew  off  duty  slept  soundly,  though 
some  were  dreaming  of  wife  and  children 
in  far  away  homes,  and  others  of  palaces, 
parks,  and  castles  in  foreign  countries. 

It  was  difficult  for  Mrs.  Harris  to  get 
much  rest  as  the  waves  dashing  against  the 


84     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

ship  often  awakened  her,  and  her  thoughts 
would  race  with  the  Cincinnati  Express 
which  was  swiftly  bearing  her  husband  and 
Gertrude  back  to  Harris ville  and  perhaps 
to  trouble  and  poverty.  While  Mrs.  Harris 
knew  that  her  husband  was  wealthy,  she 
was  constantly  troubled  with  fears  lest  she 
and  her  family  should  sometime  come  to 
want.  Her  own  father  had  acquired  a 
fortune  in  Ireland,  but  changes  in  the 
British  tariff  laws  had  rendered  him  penni 
less,  and  poverty  had  driven  her  mother 
with  seven  other  children  to  America. 

A  rich  uncle  in  Boston  enabled  her  to 
get  a  fair  education,  and  the  early  years 
of  her  married  life  had  been  full  of  earnest 
effort,  of  economy  and  heroic  struggle, 
that  her  husband  and  family  might  gain  a 
footing  in  the  world.  The  comforts  of  her 
early  childhood  in  Ireland  had  given  her 
a  keen  relish  for  luxury.  The  pain  inflicted 
by  poverty  that  followed  was  severely  felt, 
and  now,  the  pleasures  of  wealth  again 
were  all  the  more  enjoyed. 

Mrs.  Harris  was  not  a  church  member, 
but  woman-like  she  found  her  lips  saying, 
"God  bless  the  colonel  and  my  precious 
children."  Then  putting  her  hand  over 
upon  Lucille,  and  satisfied  that  she  was 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  85 

there  by  her  side  and  asleep,  she  too  be 
came  drowsy  and  finally  unconscious.  Al 
fonso  and  Leo  occupied  the  adjoining- 
stateroom,  but  both  were  in  dreamland; 
Alfonso  in  the  art  galleries  of  Holland  and 
Leo  in  sunny  Italy. 

Before  morning  the  storm  center  was 
moving  rapidly  down  the  St.  Lawrence 
Valley,  and  off  the  east  coast  of  Maine. 
Long  lines  of  white-capped  waves  were 
dashing  after  each  other  like  swift  platoons 
in  a  cavalry  charge.  The  "Majestic,"  con 
scious  of  an  enemy  on  her  flank,  sought 
earnestly  to  outstrip  the  winds  of  ^Eolus. 
When  Captain  Morgan  reached  the  bridge, 
the  sea  and  sky  were  most  threatening. 
The  first  officer  said,  "Captain,  I  have 
never  seen  the  mercury  go  down  so  rapidly. 
We  are  in  for  a  nasty  time  of  it,  I  fear." 

Early  the  sailors  were  scrubbing  the  ship 
while  the  spray  helped  to  wash  the  decks, 
and  they  tightened  the  fastenings  of  the 
lifeboats.  The  firemen  too  were  busy  drop 
ping  cinders  astern.  Fires  in  the  cook's 
galley  were  lighted,  and  the  steerage  pas 
sengers  were  aroused  for  breakfast,  but 
few  responded. 

Mrs.  Harris  often  tried  to  dress,  but 
every  time  she  fell  back  into  her  berth, 


86      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

saying,  "Stewardess,  I  shall  surely  die. 
Isn't  the  ship  going  down?" 

"No,  no,  madam, "  the  stewardess  re 
plied,  "I  will  return  with  beef  tea,  and 
you  will  soon  feel  better." 

Lucille  was  helped  to  put  on  a  dark  wrap 
per  ;  and  after  repeated  efforts  at  a  hasty 
toilet,  she  took  the  stewardess's  arm  and 
reached  an  easy  chair  in  the  library. 
Alfonso  and  Leo,  who  were  both  members 
of  a  yacht  club  in  New  York,  came  to  the 
library  from  a  short  walk  on  the  deck.  It 
required  much  urging  with  Lucille  before 
she  would  attempt  an  entrance  into  the 
dining-room.  Several  men  and  a  few  ladies 
were  present. 

"Good  morning,  Miss  Harris,  how  brave 
you  are, ' '  were  words  spoken  so  encourag 
ingly  by  Captain  Morgan  that  Lucille 's 
face  brightened  and  she  responded  as  best 
she  could. 

"Thank  you,  captain,  I  believe  I  should 
much  prefer  to  face  a  storm  of  bullets  on 
the  land  than  a  storm  at  sea;  you  coura 
geous  sailors  really  deserve  all  the  gold 
medals." 

Leo,  who  was  fond  of  the  ocean,  said  to 
Alfonso,  "Why  can't  we  all  be  sailors! 
What  say  you  to  this?  Let  us  test  who  of 


UNJV 


Discomfitures  at  Sea 

our  party  shall  lose  the  fewest  meals  from 
New  York  to  Queenstown.  You  and  your 
mother  or  Lucille  and  II" 

"Agreed,"  responded  Alfonso,  thinking 
it  would  help  to  keep  the  ladies  in  good 
spirits. 

"But  what  shall  count  for  a  meal?" 
inquired  Alfonso. 

"Not  less  than  ten  minutes  at  the  table, 
and  at  dinner,  soup  at  least."  Lucille 
thought  Leo's  idea  a  capital  one.  It  was 
agreed  that  the  contest  should  commence 
with  the  next  lunch,  and  that  Alfonso  and 
Leo  should  act  as  captains  for  the  two 
sides. 

By  this  time  Lucille  had  eaten  a  little 
toast  and  had  sipped  part  of  her  chocolate. 
A  tenderloin  steak  and  sweet  omelet 
with  French  fried  potatoes  were  being 
served,  when  suddenly  the  color  left  her 
face.  Another  lurch  of  the  steamer  sent  a 
glass  of  ice  water  up  her  loose  sleeve,  and, 
utterly  discomfited,  she  begged  to  be  ex 
cused  and  rushed  from  the  table. 

"Oh  dear,  mother,  how  terribly  I  feel; 
let  me  lie  down.  Oh  dear!  I  wish  I  were 
home  with  father  and  Gertrude." 

"If  the  colonel  were  only  here  to  help," 
murmured  Mrs.  Harris.  "Stewardess, 


88      The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

where  are  you  I  Why  don't  you  hurry  when 
I  ring?  Go  for  the  doctor  at  once."  It  was 
now  blowing  a  gale  and  the  steamer  was 
rolling  badly. 

It  was  a  long  half -hour  before  the  doctor 
entered  the  stateroom  of  Mrs.  Harris.  Dr. 
Argyle  was  perfect  in  physical  develop 
ment  and  a  model  of  gentlemanly  quali 
ties.  His  education  had  been  received  in 
London  and  Vienna,  and  he  had  joined 
the  service  of  the  " Majestic"  that  he 
might  enlarge  his  experiences  as  practi 
tioner  and  man  of  the  world.  He  had 
correctly  divined  that  here  he  was  sure  to 
touch  intimately  the  restless  and  wander 
ing  aristocracy  of  the  globe. 

While  Dr.  Argyle  was  ostensibly  the 
ship's  doctor,  he  was  keenly  alert  for  an 
opportunity  that  would  help  him  on  to 
fame  and  fortune.  Of  the  two  he  preferred 
the  latter,  as  he  believed  that  humanity  is 
just  as  lazy  as  it  dares  to  be.  Therefore 
stateroom  No.  —  was  entered  both  pro 
fessionally  and  inquisitively.  The  doctor 
was  half  glad  that  the  Harrises  were  ill, 
as  he  had  seen  the  family  at  Captain  Mor 
gan's  table  and  desired  to  meet  them. 
Captain  Morgan  had  incidentally  men 
tioned  to  the  doctor  the  great  wealth  of 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  89 

the  Harris  family,  and  this  also  had 
whetted  his  curiosity.  Before  him  lay 
mother  and  daughter,  helpless,  both  in 
utter  misery  and  the  picture  of  despair. 

"Beg  pardon,  ladies,"  said  the  doctor 
as  he  entered,  "you  sent  for  me  I  believe?" 

"Yes,  yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Harris,  "we 
thought  you  had  forgotten  us,  as  the  half- 
hour  -s  delay  seemed  a  full  week.  My 
daughter,  Lucille,  and  I  are  suffering  ter 
ribly.  How  awful  the  storm!  Last  night, 
doctor,  I  thought  I  should  die  before  morn 
ing,  and  now  I  greatly  fear  that  the  ship 
will  go  down." 

"Do  not  fear,  ladies,"  the  doctor  replied, 
6 1  the  wind  is  only  brisk ;  most  people  suffer 
a  little  on  the  ocean,  especially  on  the  first 
voyage. ' ' 

"What  is  the  cause  of  this  terrible  sea 
sickness,  doctor,  and  what  can  you  do  for 
us?" 

"Frankly,  Mrs.  Harris,  no  two  physi 
cians  agree  as  to  the  cause.  Usually  people 
suffer  most  from  seasickness  who  come 
aboard  weary  from  over-work  or  nervous 
exhaustion.  Most  people  waste  vital  forces 
by  too  much  talking  or  by  over-exertion. 
Americans,  especially,  overcheck  their  de 
posits  of  vitality,  and  as  bankrupts  they 


90     The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

struggle  to  transact  daily  duties.  Wise 
management  of  nerve  forces  would  enable 
them  to  accomplish  more  and  enjoy  life 
better. " 

"I  am  a  bankrupt  then,"  said  Mrs. 
Harris,  "but  how  about  my  daughter 
Lucille?  " 

"Your  child,  I  fear,  is  the  daughter  of 
bankrupts  and  doubtless  inherits  their 
qualities. ' ' 

"But,  doctor,  can't  you  do  something 
now  for  us?" 

"Oh  yes,  madam,  but  first  let  me  feel 
your  pulse,  please." 

"Ninety-eight,"  he  said  to  himself,  but 
he  added  to  Mrs.  Harris,  "you  need  the 
very  rest  this  voyage  affords  and  you  must 
not  worry  the  least  about  the  storm  or 
affairs  at  home.  Our  vessel  is  built  of  steel, 
and  Captain  Morgan  always  outrides  the 
storms.  Ladies,  I  want  you  to  take  this 
preparation  of  my  own.  It  is  a  special 
remedy  for  seasickness,  the  result  of  the 
study  and  experience  of  the  medical  force 
of  the  White  Star  Line." 

The  faces  of  mother  and  daughter 
brightened.  They  had  faith.  This  was 
noticed  by  Dr.  Argyle.  Faith  was  the 
restorative  principle  upon  which  the 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  91 

young  doctor  depended,  and  without  it 
his  medicine  was  worthless.  The  White 
Star  panacea  prescribed  was  harmless, 
as  his  powders  merely  inclined  the 
patient  to  sleep  and  recovery  followed, 
so  faith  or  nature  worked  the  cure.  Soon 
after  the  door  closed  behind  the  doctor, 
Lucille  was  asleep,  and  Mrs.  Harris  passed 
into  dreamland. 

The  winds  veered  into  the  southwest, 
and,  reinforced,  were  controlled  by  a  vio 
lent  hurricane  that  had  rushed  up  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  the  West  Indies.  The 
novice  aboard  was  elated,  for  he  thought 
that  the  fiercer  the  wind  blew  behind  the 
vessel,  the  faster  the  steamer  would  be 
driven  forward.  How  little  some  of  us 
really  know !  The  cyclone  at  sea  is  a  rotary 
storm,  or  hurricane,  of  extended  circuit. 
Black  clouds  drive  down  upon  the  sea  and 
ship  with  a  tiger's  fierceness  as  if  to  crush 
all  life  in  their  pathway. 

Officers  and  crew,  in  waterproof  gar 
ments,  become  as  restless  as  bunched 
cattle  in  a  prairie  blizzard.  All  eyes  now 
roam  from  prow  to  stern,  from  deck  to 
top  mast.  The  lightning's  blue  flame  plays 
with  the  steel  masts,  and  overhead  thun 
ders  drown  the  noise  of  engines  and 


92       The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

propellers.  Thick  black  smoke  and  red-hot 
cinders  shoot  forth  from  the  three  black  - 
throated  smoke-stacks. 

The  huge  steamer,  no  longer  moving 
with  the  ease  of  the  leviathan,  seems  a  tiny 
craft  and  almost  helpless  in  the  chopped 
seas  that  give  to  the  ship  a  complex 
motion  so  difficult,  even  for  old  sailors,  to 
anticipate.  Tidal  wave  follows  tidal  wave 
in  rapid  succession.  Both  trough  and 
crest  are  whipped  into1  whitecaps  like 
tents  afield,  till  sea  and  storm  seem  leagued 
to  deluge  the  world  again. 

Captain  Morgan,  lashed  to  the  bridge, 
has  full  confidence  in  himself,  his  doubled 
watch  ahead,  his  compasses,  and  the  throb 
bing  engines  below.  Dangers  have  now 
aroused  the  man  and  his  courage  grows 
apace.  Moments  supreme  come  to  every 
captain  at  sea,  the  same  as  to  captains  who 
wage  wars  on  the  land. 

The  decks  are  drenched,  great  waves 
pound  the  forward  deck  and  life-boats  are 
broken  from  their  moorings.  Battened 
hatches  imprison  below  a  regiment  of 
souls,  some  suffering  the  torments  of 
stomachs  in  open  rebellion,  others  of  heads 
swollen,  while  others  lose  entire  control 


Discomfitures  at  Sea  93 

of  an  army  of  nerves  that  center  near  and 
drive  mad  the  brain. 

To  the  uninitiated,  words  are  powerless 
to  reveal  the  torments  of  the  imprisoned 
in  a  modern  steel  inquisition,  rocking  and 
pitching  at  the  mercy  of  mighty  torrents 
in  a  mid-ocean  cyclone.  Mephistopheles, 
seeking  severest  punishment  for  the 
damned,  displayed  tenderness  in  not  adopt 
ing  the  super-heated  and  sooted  pits  where 
stokers  in  storms  at  sea  are  forced  to  labor 
and  suffer. 

All  that  terrible  second  day  and  night 
at  sea,  the  Harrises  and  others  tossed  back 
and  forth  in  their  unstable  berths,  some 
suffering  with  chills  and  others  with  burn 
ing  heat.  Some,  Mrs.  Harrris  and  daughter 
among  them,  lay  for  hours  more  dead 
than  alive,  their  wills  and  muscles  utterly 
powerless  to  reach  needed  and  much 
coveted  blankets. 

The  dining  saloon  was  deserted  except 
by  a  few  old  sea-travelers.  Before  dinner, 
Leo  ventured  above  and  for  a  moment  put 
his  head  outside.  The  gale  blowing  a  hun 
dred  miles  an  hour  hit  him  with  the  force 
of  a  club.  When  he  went  below  to  see 
Alfonso,  his  face  was  pale,  and  his  voice 
trembled  as  he  said,  "Harris,  before 


94     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

morning  we  shall  all  sink  to  the  bottom  of 
the  Atlantic  with  the  *  Majestic'  for  our 
tomb. ' '  Half  undressed,  Leo  dropped  again 
into  his  berth  where  he  spent  a  miserable 
night. 


CHAPTER  VI 

HALF-AWAKE,  HALF- ASLEEP 

FEW  persons  find  life  enjoyable  in  a  great 
storm  at  sea,  for  the  discomfitures  of  mind 
and  body  are  many.  The  ship's  officers 
and  crew  are  always  concerned  about  the 
welfare  of  the  passengers  and  the  safety 
of  steamer  and  cargo. 

True,  Leo,  with  the  instincts  of  an  artist, 
had  stood  for  hours  on  the  deck,  partially 
sheltered  by  a  smoke-stack,  to  study  wave 
motions  and  the  ever-changing  effects  of 
the  ocean.  Never  before  had  he  known  its 
sublimity.  When  the  sea  was  wildest  and 
the  deck  was  wave-swept,  he  in  his  safe 
retreat  made  sketches  of  waves  and  their 
combinations  which  he  hoped  sometime  to 
reproduce  on  canvas.  At  other  times,  con 
scious  of  storm  dangers  in  mid-ocean,  Leo 's 
conscience  troubled  him.  For  a  year  he  had 
been  much  in  love  with  a  pretty  Italian 
girl,  daughter  of  an  official,  long  in  the 
service  of  the  Italian  government  at  the 
port  of  New  York, 


96     The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Rosie  Ricei  was  fifteen  years  old  when 
she  first  met  Leo.  Dressed  in  white,  she 
entered  an  exhibition  of  water  colors  on 
W.  10th  street  with  her  mother  one  May 
morning,  as  Leo  had  finished  hanging  a 
delicate  marine  view  sketched  down  the 
Narrows. 

Glances  only  between  Leo  and  Rosie 
were  exchanged,  but  each  formed  the  reso 
lution  sometime,  if  possible,  to  know  the 
other.  Rosie 's  father  had  died  when  she 
was  only  fourteen  years  old,  and  existence 
for  Mrs.  Ricci  and  her  little  family  had 
been  a  struggle.  For  the  last  year,  a  happy 
change  had  come  in  their  condition.  A 
letter  had  been  received  from  a  rich  sena 
tor  by  Mrs.  Ricci,  which  was  couched  in 
the  tenderest  language.  The  senator  ex 
plained  in  his  letter  that  at  a  musicale, 
given  on  Fifth  Avenue,  he  had  heard  a 
Rosie  Ricci  sing  a  simple  song  that  revived 
memories  of  an  early  day.  This  fact, 
coupled  with  Rosie 's  charming  simplicity 
and  vivacity  of  manner,  fixed  her  name 
in  his  mind;  later  he  was  reading  the  Neiv 
York  Tribune,  and  the  name  Ricci  arrested 
his  attention. 

The  item  mentioned  the  death  of  Raphael 
Ricci,  ex-consul,  and  the  senator's  object 


Half-awake,  Half-asleep  97 

in  writing  was  to  inquire  further  as  to  the 
facts.  Did  he  leave  a  competency?  If  not, 
would  the  family  receive  such  assistance  as 
would  enable  the  daugKter,  if  Rosie  Ricci 
was  her  daughter,  to  obtain  a  further 
musical  education? 

The  senator's  letter  dropped  from  the 
mother's  hands;  she  was  overcome  with 
the  good  news.  Rosie  picked  it  up  saying, 
"Mother  dear,  what  is  the  matter?  What 
terrible  news  does  it  contain?" 

"Not  bad  news,  child!  possibly  good 
news;  a  letter  from  a  stranger  who  offers 
aid  in  our  distress,  a  letter  from  one  hold 
ing  a  high  position.  I  wonder  what  it  all 
means?  Has  the  senator  been  prompted 
by  the  spirit  of  your  anxious  father,  or 
is  there  evil  in  the  communication?" 

"Tell  me,  mother,  tell  me  all  about  it!" 
But  before  the  mother  could  speak,  Rosie 
was  reading  the  letter  aloud.  She  threw 
up  her  hands  in  delight  and  flew  into  her 
mother's  arms.  "How  good  the  Lord  is  to 
us!"  Rosie  exclaimed.  She  had  been  eager 
for  a  musical  education  and  to  win  fame 
on  the  stage. 

In  June,  by  appointment,  Mrs.  Ricci  and 
daughter  met  the  Senator  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel.  It  was  arranged  that  Rosie 


98      The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

should  have  the  best  musical  education 
obtainable  in  Boston,  and  further  that  the 
senator  should  pay  her  expenses  in  Boston 
and  New  York,  and  that  the  mother's  rent 
should  be  included  in  his  liberality.  At 
times,  the  mother  questioned  the  senator's 
motives,  but  he  always  seemed  so  kind 
and  fatherly  that  she  spurned  the  thought 
as  coming  from  the  Evil  One. 

The  senator  as  he  left,  put  several  bills 
in  Mrs.  Eicci's  hand,  saying,  "You  and 
Eosie  will  find  need  of  them  for  clothes 
for  the  daughter  and  for  other  expenses." 

Never  was  a  girl  happier  than  Eosie 
the  morning  she  and  her  mother  left  the 
Grand  Central  Depot  for  New  England. 
Earely,  if  ever,  did  a  girl  work  harder  than 
Eosie  at  her  studies.  Her  soul  often  had 
burned  with  ambition  for  fame  and  for 
money  so  that  she  could  assist  her  mother. 
The  way  was  now  open  and  success  was 
possible.  At  the  sunset  hour  she  often 
walked  with  a  friend  among  the  historic 
elms  on  Boston  Common  and  in  the  beauti 
ful  flower  gardens. 

Often  young  men  longed  for  her  ac 
quaintance,  but  they  could  never  get  the 
consent  of  her  pretty  eyes.  She  was  petite, 
her  hair  black,  her  eyes  dark  brown,  her 


Half-awake,  Half-asleep  99 

lips  ruby- red,  and  her  nose  and  chin  finely 
chiselled.  She  had  a  cameo-like  face  and 
complexion  of  olive  tint  that  told  of  the 
land  of  vines  and  figs  in  sunny  Italy.  Her 
step  was  elastic,  her  manner  vivacious  and 
confiding.  Her  dress  was  always  tidy  and 
stylish.  Usually  she  carried  a  roll  of 
music  in  one  hand  as  she  left  the  conserva 
tory,  and  lovely  flowers  in  the  other  that 
had  been  expressed  either  by  the  senator 
or  Leo. 

On  the  completion  of  her  course  in  the 
conservatory,  Leo  had  pressed  his  suit 
so  devotedly  that  Rosie  consented  to  an 
engagement  without  her  mother's  knowl 
edge.  The  ring  of  gold  contained  a  single 
ruby,  and  Leo  had  had  engraved  on  the 
inside  of  the  ring,  "Et  teneo,  et  teneor." 
When  Eosie  saw  the  old  Roman  motto  she 
said,  "I  hold,  and  am  held.  How  appro 
priate,  Leo !  Your  love  for  me,  devotion  to 
the  beautiful,  and  our  bright  memories  of 
artistic  Italy  shall  bind  us  together  for 
ever. 

"But  Leo,  why  do  you  put  the  ring  on 
the  third  finger  before  marriage?" 

Leo  answered,  "Because  I  have  read 
somewhere  that  many  centuries  ago  the 
Egyptians  believed  that  the  third  finger 


100    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

was  especially  wanned  by  a  small  artery 
that  proceeded  directly  from  the  heart.  The 
Egyptians  also  believed  that  the  third  fin 
ger  is  the  first  that  a  new  born  babe  is  able 
to  move,  and  the  last  finger  over  which  the 
dying  lose  control. ' ' 

"Nonsense,"  replied  Eosie,  "once  the 
wedding  ring,  studded  with  precious  stones, 
was  worn  on  the  fore-finger;  Christianity 
moved  it  to  the  third  finger.  Its  use  was 
originated  in  this  way:  the  priest  first 
put  it  on  the  thumb,  saying  'In  the  name 
of  the  Father';  on  the  forefinger,  adding, 
4 in  the  name  of  the  Son;'  on  the  second 
finger,  repeating,  'in  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Ghost;'  and  on  the  third  finger,  ending 
with  'Amen,'  and  there  it  staid." 

Abelard  and  Heloise  were  not  happier 
in  their  unselfish  affection  than  Leo  and 
Eosie  in  their  love.  Colors  on  Leo's  canvas 
now  sought  each  other  in  magic  harmony. 
At  single  sittings  in  his  studio  Leo  made 
Madonna  faces,  and  glowing  landscapes, 
that  evoked  words  of  warm  praise  from 
his  fellow  artists,  who  were  blind  to  the 
secret  of  Leo 's  remarkable  power. 

For  a  Christmas  present  Leo  brought 
Eosie  a  picture  of  his  own  of  Eosie 's 
beautiful  hand  holding  lilies  of  the  valley; 
and  while  she  thanked  him  in  sweetest 


Half -awake,  Half -asleep          101 

words,  he  pinned  at  her  throat  a  Florentine 
cameo  once  worn  by  his  mother.  All  these 
things,  and  more,  came  flashing  into  Leo's 
mind  as  he  struggled  on  the  ship's  deck 
to  keep  his  footing  in  the  storm. 

A  week  before  the  steamer  left  New 
York  Leo  and  Rosie  had  quarreled.  Leo's 
invitation  to  accompany  the  Harrises  had 
come  to  him  from  Alfonso  only  three  days 
before  the  "  Majestic  V  departure,  and 
such  was  his  momentary  ill-humor  toward 
Rosie  that  he  sailed  from  New  York 
without  even  advising  her  of  his  new  plan, 
or  saying  good-bye.  Leo,  alone  on  the  sea, 
often  severely  rebuked  himself  that  he 
could  have  been  so  unkind  to  the  woman  to 
whom  he  had  given  his  heart  and  his 
mother's  favorite  bit  of  jewelry. 

A  thousand  times  he  wished  he  could 
ask  Rosie 's  forgiveness,  for  it  was  in  a  fit 
of  anger  that  Rosie  had  snatched  the  ruby 
ring  off  her  hand  and  the  cameo  from  her 
throat,  and  had  thrown  them  into  Leo's  lap 
saying,  "Take  them,  Leo,  you  will  easily 
find  another  girl  to  share  your  family  name 
and  your  poverty  as  an  artist  while  I 
have  need  of  wealth. ' '  Leo  had  turned  from 
Rosie 's  home  without  the  power  to  reply, 
he  was  so  taken  by  surprise. 

Leo  was  never  so  happy  as  when  Rosie 


102    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

was  present  in  Ms  studio  to  encourage  him 
by  word  or  song,  but  now  all  was  changed. 

Sometimes  Leo  in  his  secret  thoughts 
feared  that  Bosie's  beauty  and  charming 
manner  would  command  riches,  and  some 
times  he  dared  to  think  that  possibly  his 
talent  and  fame  might  command  a  hand 
some  dowry.  Then  his  mind  turned  to 
Lucille.  She  was  taller  than  Eosie,  not  so 
vivacious,  but  like  Eosie  enjoyed  a  happy 
time.  He  even  ventured  at  times  to  say 
mentally  of  Lucille  that ' i  it  is  she  or  none 
on  earth,"  and  then  as  he  recalled  the 
ring  given  to  Eosie,  the  old  love  would 
assert  itself  and  he  would  shut  his  eyes, 
ashamed  of  an  affection  that  was  false 
hearted.  It  was  fortunate  for  Leo  that 
he  was  a  good  sailor,  as  it  enabled  him  to 
do  many  thoughtful  things  for  the  Har 
rises,  and  thus  show  his  appreciation  of 
their  great  kindness  to  him. 

On  the  third  day  out  from  New  York,  the 
storm  moderated  somewhat  and  the  pas 
sengers  at  breakfast  visibly  increased  in 
number,  but  before  the  lunch  hour  was 
over  the  fury  of  the  gale  returned.  The 
steamer  in  her  course  had  crossed  the 
center  of  the  cyclone  where  the  force  of 
the  storm  was  diminished  for  a  short  time 


Half-awake,  Half-asleep          103 

only.  All  that  afternoon  and  night  the  gale 
increased  in  force  till  it  seemed  as  if  vol 
canic  powers  under  the  sea  were  at  work 
turning  the  ocean  upside  down. 

Pent  up  forces  in  the  west  were  loosed, 
and  Neptune,  deity  of  the  ocean,  with  his 
three-pronged  trident  stalked  abroad.  The 
bombardment  of  waves  was  terrific,  and 
the  twin  propellers  raced  so  fiercely  that 
speed  was  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

In  the  morning  the  terrible  cyclone  had 
moved  to  the  north,  smoother  seas  were 
reached  by  lunch  time,  and  most  of  the 
tables  were  again  filled.  Many  of  those  who 
were  making  a  first  voyage  also  put  in 
their  appearance,  and  they  were  subjected 
to  much  chaffing  from  the  veterans  of  ocean 
travel.  Captain  Morgan  and  Docter  Argyle 
were  the  recipients  of  many  complimen 
tary  words  for  their  skill. 

At  dinner  Leo  and  Alfonso  mustered 
full  forces,  and  each  side  scored  every 
point,  for  both  Mrs.  Harris  and  Lucille 
entered  the  dining  room,  and  everybody 
enjoyed  the  menu  after  a  three  days'  fast. 
Captain  Morgan  spoke  of  the  storm  as 
"the  late  unpleasantness, "  and  hoped  his 
friends  would  not  desert  him  again.  Mrs. 
Harris  was  silent,  but  Alfonso  and  Lucille 


104   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

promised  loyalty  for  the  future,  and  Leo 
said,  "Captain  Morgan,  I  believe  I  haven't 
missed  a  meal." 

"Bravo,  Colonna!"  the  captain  replied, 
"you  really  seem  to  have  inherited  the  sail 
ing  qualities  of  your  great  countryman 
Columbus,  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  you 
may  render  the  world  equally  valuable 
services. ' ' 

Lucille  added,  "I  am  sure  he  will,  cap 
tain;  during  the  gale,  he  rendered  signal 
services  to  suffering  humanity." 

"To-morrow,"  continued  Captain  Mor 
gan,  "is  the  21st  of  June,  when  the  day 
and  night  will  be  of  equal  length,  the  sun 
rising  and  setting  promptly  at  six  o'clock." 

"Why  not,"  said  Lucille,  "set  our 
watches  by  the  steamer 's  chronometer,  and 
have  the  steward  call  us  at  5:30  o'clock 
and  all  test  the  accuracy  of  the  almanac?" 
Mrs.  Harris  and  several  others  entered 
heartily  into  the  plan. 

The  pure  sea-air  was  so  fresh  and  restful 
that  when  three  bells  or  5:30  o'clock  in 
the  morning  was  heard,  the  Harris  party 
were  easily  awakened  and  they  hastily  pre 
pared  to  witness  at  sea  the  sun-rise  on 
June  21st. 

Leo  and  Alfonso  were  first  on  deck.  Mrs. 
Harris,  Lucille,  and  the  Judge,  an 


Half-awake,  Half-asleep          105 

acquaintance  made  on  the  ship,  soon  joined 
them.  Their  watches  agreed  that  it  was  ten 
minutes  to  six  o'clock  The  decks  had  been 
washed  and  put  in  order,  engines  were 
running  at  full  speed,  the  eastern  sky  was 
flushed  with  crimson  and  golden  bands  that 
shot  out  of  the  horizon,  and  fan-like  in 
shape  faded  up  in  the  zenith.  With  watches 
in  hand,  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  a  pathway 
of  intensely  lighted  sea  and  sky  in  the  east. 
Suddenly,  as  the  sailor  rung  out  "four 
bells, "  or  6  o'clock,  Lucille  shouted, 
"There!  See  that  drop  of  molten  gold 
floating  on  the  horizon.  Captain  Morgan 
was  right  as  to  time.  See,  judge,  how  the 
gold  glows  with  heat  and  light  as  the 
globe  turns  to  receive  the  sun's  blessings !" 
"Yes,"  said  the  judge  who  now  for  the 
first  time  since  the  storm  became  really 
enthusiastic,  "another  page  of  the  record 
book  is  turned,  and  the  good  and  bad  deeds 
of  humanity  will  be  entered  by  the  record 
ing  angel.  The  mighty  sun,  around  which 
we  revolve  at  fabulous  speed  is,  in  its 
relations  to  us  mortals,  the  most  important 
material  fact  in  the  universe.  If  I  ever 
change  my  religion  I  shall  become  a  sun- 
worshiper.  The  Turk  in  his  prayers,  five 
times  a  day,  faces  the  sun. ' ' 


106   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

An  early  brisk  walk  on  the  deck  sharp 
ened  appetites,  and  our  sun-worshipers 
were  among  the  first  at  breakfast.  Grad 
ually  others  entered,  and  again  the  dining 
room  was  cheerful  with  sunny  faces.  After 
breakfast  the  decks  were  astir  with  pretty 
women,  children,  and  gentlemen  lifting 
their  hats.  The  promenade  was  as  gay  as 
on  Fifth  Avenue.  Doctor  Argyle  gave  his 
arm  to  Mrs.  Harris,  Lucille  walked 
between  Alfonso  and  Leo,  and  doctors  of 
divinity  and  men  of  repute  in  other  pro 
fessions  kept  faithful  step.  Actors  and 
actresses  moved  as  gracefully  as  before  the 
footlights.  A  famous  actor  carried  on  his 
shoulders  a  tiny  girl  who  had  bits  of  sky 
for  eyes,  a  fair  face,  and  fleecy  hair  that 
floated  in  the  sea  breeze,  making  a  pretty 
picture. 

Business  men  with  fragrant  cigars 
indulged  in  the  latest  story  or  joke.  By 
degrees  the  promenade  disappeared  as 
passengers  selected  steamer  chairs,  library, 
or  smoking  room,  and  congenial  souls 
formed  interesting  and  picturesque  groups. 
At  the  outset  of  the  voyage  you  wonder 
at  the  lack  of  fine  dress,  and  hastily  judge 
the  modest  men  and  women  about  you  to 
be  somewhat  commonplace,  but  after  days 


Half-aivakej  Half-asleep          107 

at  sea  and  many  acquaintances  made, 
you  discover  your  mistake  and  learn  that 
your  companions  are  thoroughly  cosmo 
politan.  In  fair  weather  the  decks  are  play 
grounds  where  children  at  games  enliven 
the  scene,  and  sailors'  songs  are  heard. 

When  the  old  clipper  ship  took  from  four 
to  six  weeks  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  a  weekly 
paper  was  printed.  On  some  of  the  swift 
liners  of  today  on  the  fourth  day  out  a 
paper  is  issued,  when  perhaps  the  steamer 
is  "rolling  in  the  Roaring  Forties. "  The 
sheet  is  a  four-page  affair,  about  six  inches 
wide  and  nine  inches  long.  It  gives  a 
description  of  the  ship  signed  by  the  Cap 
tain;  the  daily  runs  of  the  ship  follow,  the 
distance  still  to  go  is  stated,  and  the  prob 
able  time  it  will  take  to  make  port;  under 
"General  Information"  you  learn  about 
seasickness,  what  you  have  not  already 
experienced,  the  necessity  of  exercise 
aboard  ship,  also  much  about  the  handling 
of  luggage  in  Europe;  some  of  the  prose 
and  poetry  is  sure  to  be  good,  and  is  con 
tributed  by  skilled  writers  among  the  pas 
sengers.  A  column  of  "Queries"  and  a 
few  brief  stories  and  jokes  brighten  the 
sheet.  The  price  is  fifteen  cents,  and  every 
copy  of  "The  Ocean  Breeze"  is  highly 


108   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

prized.  On  the  whole,  people  at  sea  enjoy 
most  the  enforced  rest,  for  they  escape 
newspapers,  telegrams,  creditors,  and  the 
tax-gatherer. 

At  11  o  'clock  on  the  deck,  every  pleasant 
day,  a  large,  well-dressed  man,  attended 
by  his  valet,  generously  opened  a  barrel 
of  fresh  oysters  for  the  passengers.  This 
benevolent  gentleman  proved  to  be  a  famous 
Saratoga  gambler.  In  this  way  he  made 
many  acquaintances  and  friends,  and  each 
day  he  increased  his  winnings  at  cards  and 
in  bets  on  the  vessel's  run,  till  finally,  not 
he,  but  the  guileless  passengers  paid  for 
the  oysters. 

Gambling  was  the  business  of  the  man 
who  advertised  by  his  oysters;  with  the 
actor,  who  romped  with  the  pretty  child, 
gambling  was  a  passion.  So  intense  was 
this  passion  with  the  actor  that  he  would 
attempt  to  match  silver  dollars  or  gold 
sovereigns  with  everybody  he  met  when 
ashore ;  between  acts  on  the  stage  he  would 
telegraph  his  bet  to  distant  cities.  Crossing 
parks  or  walking  down  Broadway  his 
palm  concealed  a  coin,  ready  for  the  first 
possible  chance.  He  would  match  his  coat 
or  his  home  or  even  his  bank  account.  On 
ship  he  matched  sovereigns  only. 


Half-awake,  Half-asleep          109 

Occasionally  the  "Majestic"  passed  in 
sight  of  some  other  ship,  or  "tramp- 
steamer,"  and  by  signal  exchanged  names 
and  location.  Rarely  do  the  great  passenger 
steamers  meet  on  the  Atlantic,  as  the 
course  outward  is  quite  to  the  north  to 
avoid  collisions.  Half-awake,  half- asleep, 
the  days  on  shipboard  go  by  as  in  a  dream, 
and  you  gladly  welcome  back  restored 
health.  Perhaps  a  sweet  or  strong  face 
wins  your  interest  or  heart,  as  the  case 
may  be,  and  life-long  friendships  are 
formed.  Confidence  thus  bestowed  often 
begets  the  same  in  others,  and  you  are 
thankful  for  the  ocean  voyage. 


CHAPTER  VII 

LIFE  AT  SEA  A  KALEIDOSCOPE 

IN  a  shady  retreat  on  the  ship  after  lunch 
sat  the  Harrises,  Leo,  the  judge,  and  Dr. 
Argyle,  the  latter  reading  a  French  novel. 
Leo  had  just  finished  a  new  novel  entitled 
"A  Broken  Promise,"  Alfonso  had  read 
three  hundred  pages  in  one  of  Dickens 's 
novels  that  tells  so  vividly  how  the  poor 
of  London  exist. 

Dr.  Argyle  said,  "  Judge,  what  do  you 
think  of  novels  anyway?" 

The  matter-of-fact  judge  gruffly  replied, 
"I  never  read  the  modern  novel  because 
I  don't  care  to  waste  my  time." 

Whereupon  Alfonso  said,  "Give  me  the 
novel  of  an  idealist  that  has  a  purpose. 
Colonel  Ingersol  spoke  the  truth  in  a 
recent  lecture  when  he  said  that  a  realist 
can  be  no  more  than  an  imitator  or  a 
copyist.  His  philosophy  makes  the  wax 
that  receives  and  retains  an  image  of  an 
artist.  Realism  degrades  and  impoverishes. 
The  real  sustains  the  same  relation  to  the 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       111 

ideal  that  a  stone  does  to  a  statue,  or  that 
paint  does  to  a  painting. ' ' 

"No,"  replied  Leo,  "a  novel  proper 
should  be  a  love  story  spiced  with  the 
beauties  of  nature  and  exciting  adventures. 
A  novel  with  a  purpose,  Alfonso,  should 
advertise  under  another  name  for  it  is 
a  cheat.  It  is  often  written  with  a  deliberate 
attempt  to  beguile  a  person  into  reading  a 
story  which  the  writer  deliberately  planned 
to  be  simply  the  medium  of  conveying  use 
ful  or  useless  information.  Possibly  a  social 
panacea,  or  the  theme  may  include  any 
subject  from  separating  gold  from  the 
ocean,  to  proving  the  validity  of  the  latest 
theory  on  electricity." 

"Leo,  you  go  too  far,"  said  Mrs.  Harris, 
"the  modern  novel  that  appears  in  press 
and  magazine,  and  later  in  book  form, 
entering  all  our  homes,  should  teach  high 
morality  and  contain  only  proper  scenes 
and  passages." 

"But,  mother,"  said  Lucille,  "you  would 
thus  debar  many  of  the  world's  master 
pieces  in  literature.  It  seems  to  me  that 
the  morality  of  character  and  scene  has 
little  to  do  with  the  artistic  value  of  the 
book.  The  realist  must  depict  life  as  it  is. 


112   TJie  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

'Art,  far  art's  sake/  is  what  commends 
a  novel  to  artistic  minds." 

"The  modern  novel  is  too  much  like 
modern  architecture,"  said  the  judge,  "a 
combination  of  classical  and  subsequent 
styles  thrown  together  to  satisfy  groups 
of  individuals  rather  than  to  conform  to 
well  accepted  rules  or  ideas  of  art.  Modern 
novels  and  modern  architecture  are  sure 
to  give  way  to  nobler  thoughts  that  shall 
practically  harmonize  the  useful  and  the 
beautiful." 

Dr.  Argyle,  having  asked  for  opinions 
on  the  modern  novel,  obtained  them.  He 
was  an  earnest  listener  as  he  had  wished 
more  knowledge  of  the  Harris  family, 
which  would  enable  him  the  better  to  lay 
plans;  he  hoped  to  win  Lucille 's  favor. 

It  was  now  a  quarter  to  six  o'clock  and 
many  passengers,  including  the  Harris 
group,  moved  to  the  port  side  of  the  ship 
to  observe  if  the  sun,  at  the  expiration  of 
twelve  hours,  would  again  touch  the  water. 
This  twenty-first  day  of  the  month  had 
been  one  of  Lowell's  rare  June  days.  It 
had  been  ushered  in  by  beautiful  cloud 
coloring. 

The  ocean  was  now  free  from  mist,  the 
blue  clouds  overhead  darkened  the  sea  to 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       113 

the  horizon,  and  it  looked  as  if  the  sun 
would  set  behind  clouds.  Unexpectedly, 
however,  the  clouds  near  the  water  sep 
arated,  and  the  sun  again  appeared  in  all 
his  glory,  sending  a  weird  light  out  over 
the  water,  gilding  the  "Majestic,"  flooding 
the  faces  of  the  passengers  with  an  unnat 
ural  light,  and  bringing  into  strong  relief 
a  sailing  craft  hovering  on  the  starboard 
horizon. 

( ( Perfectly  beautiful , ' '  exclaimed  several 
ladies.  "There,"  said  the  purser,  as  four 
bells  rang  out  and  the  gong  for  dinner 
sounded,  "the  sun  is  kissing  the  waves." 
Before  any  one  could  answer,  the  gorgeous 
sun  was  slowly  sinking  into  the  blue  waters 
of  the  Northern  Atlantic.  Passengers  held 
their  watches  and  in  three  minutes  the  sun 
had  said  farewell. 

The  dinner  was  much  enjoyed.  After  an 
evening  of  charming  moonlight,  midnight 
found  all,  sa.ve  those  on  duty,  asleep  in  the 
"Majestic,"  which  was  speeding  rapidly 
towards  the  safe  granite  docks  at  Liver 
pool. 

Moonlight  at  sea  is  so  bewitching,  the 
wonder  is  that  pleasure-seekers  ever  con 
sent  to  land  except  when  denied  the 
companionship  of  the  silver  goddess  of 


V 

or  THE 

r  UNIVERSITY  ] 

OF 


114    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

night.  Whether  she  races  with  the  clouds, 
silver  tips  the  waves,  or  with  her  borrowed 
light  Hoods  the  world  with  fairy-like 
beauty,  it  is  only  that  her  admirers  may 
exchange  sorrow  for  joy  and  conflict  for 
peace. 

The  sixth  day  out,  the  sun  illumined  a 
clear  sky,  and  those  that  loved  the  sea  were 
early  on  deck  for  exercise  and  fresh  air. 
These  early  risers  were  well  repaid,  as  the 
steamer  was  passing  through  a.  great 
school  of  porpoises  that  sometimes  venture 
long  distances  from  the  British  Islands. 
Alfonso  ran  to  rap  at  Lucille 's  door  and 
she  hurried  on  deck  to  enjoy  the  sight. 
Hundreds  of  acres  of  the  ocean  were  alive 
with  porpoises  or  sea  hogs  as  sailors  often 
call  them. 

Porpoises  average  five  feet  in  length 
and  are  the  size  of  a  small  boy  and  quite 
as  playful.  Those  animals  are  smooth,  and 
black  or  gray  in  color,  except  the  under 
side  which  is  pure  white.  They  are  gregar 
ious  and  very  sociable  in  their  habits. 
Porpoises  race  and  play  with  each  other 
and  dart  out  of  the  sea.  performing  almost 
as  many  antics  as  the  circus  clown.  They 
feed  on  mackerel  and  herring,  devouring 
large  quantities.  Years  ago  the  porpoise 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       115 

was  a  common  and  esteemed  article  of  food 
in  Great  Britain  and  France,  but  now  the 
skin  and  blubber  only  have  a  commercial 
value.  The  skins  of  a  very  large  species 
are  used  for  leather  or  boot-thongs. 

The  early  risers  were  standing  on  the 
prow  of  the  steamer  where  the  cutwater 
sent  constantly  into  the  air  a  nodding 
plume  of  white  spray.  Suddenly  the  wateh 
shouted,  "Whale  ahead,  sir!"  Officers  and 
sailors  were  astir.  Just  ahead,  and  lying 
in  the  pathway  of  the  steamer  lay  a  whale, 
fifty  feet  in  length,  seemingly  asleep,  for 
he  was  motionless.  The  officer's  first 
thought  was  that  he  would  slack  speed,  but 
presence  of  mind  prompted  him  to  order 
full  speed,  planning  no  doubt,  if  the  whale 
was  obstinate,  to  cut  him  in  halves. 

Lucille  and  others,  fearful  of  conse 
quences,  turned  and  ran,  but  the  leviathan 
suddenly  dropped  down  out  of  sight,  his 
broad  tail  splashing  salt  water  into  the 
faces  of  the  young  people  who  were  bold 
enough  to  await  events.  With  a  sense  of 
relief,  Leo  exclaimed.  "Narrow  escape, 
that!" 

"Narrow  escape  for  whom?"  Alfonso 
inquired. 


116    Tine  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

"For  both  the  steamer  and  the  whale," 
replied  Lucille. 

On  the  way  to  breakfast,  Lucille  asked 
an  officer  if  similar  instances  frequently 
happened. 

"Rarely,"  he  replied,  but  added,  "very 
likely  we  may  see  other  whales  in  this 
vicinity."  Sure  enough,  after  breakfast, 
children  ran  up  and  down  the  deck  shout 
ing,  "Whales!  Whales!"  and  several  were 
seen  a  mile  or  two  north  of  the  ship's 
course,  where  they  sported  and  spouted 
water. 

About  four  o'clock,  the  temperature 
having  fallen  several  degrees,  the  passen 
gers  sighted  to  the  northeast  a  huge  ice 
berg  in  the  shape  of  an  arch,  bearing  down 
on  the  steamer's  course,  and  had  it  been 
night,  possibly  freighted  with  all  the  hor 
rors  of  a  ship-wreck.  As  it  was,  Captain 
Morgan  deemed  it  wise  to  lessen  the  speed 
as  the  ship  approached  the  iceberg. 

"This  is  wonderful,  Leo,"  said  Mrs. 
Harris;  "can  you  tell  us  where  and  when 
icebergs  are  formed?" 

"Oh  yes,  Mrs.  Harris,  icebergs  that 
float  down  the  Atlantic  are  born  on  the  west 
coast  of  Greenland.  Up  there  great  valleys 
are  filled  with  snow  and  ice  from  hill-top 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       117 

to  hill-top,  reaching  back  up  the  valleys,  in 
some  instances  from  thirty  to  forty  miles. 
This  valley-ice  is  called  a  'Mer  de  Glace,' 
and  has  a  motion  down  the  valley,  like  any 
river,  but  of  three  feet  more  or  less  only 
per  day.  If  time  enough  is  allowed,  vast 
quantities  of  this  valley-ice  move  into  the 
gulf  or  sea.  When  the  sea  is  disturbed  by 
a  storm  the  ice  wall  or  precipice  is  broken 
off,  and  enormous  masses,  often  a  hundred 
times  larger  than  a  big  building,  fall  and 
float  away  with  the  report  of  the  firing  of 
a  park  of  artillery,  and  these  floating  moun 
tains  of  ice  are  lighted  in  their  lonely  path 
ways  by  the  midnight  sun. ' ' 

Before  dinner,  came  the  regular  prom 
enade  which  presented  many  contrasts.  A 
pretty  bride  from  the  Blue  Grass  Region 
of  Kentucky  walked  with  her  young  hus 
band  whom  she  had  first  met  at  a  New 
England  seaside.  She  was  glad  to  aid  in 
bridging  the  chasm  between  north  and 
south.  Her  traveling  dress  of  blue  was 
appropriately  trimmed  with  gray. 

The  gorgeously  dressed  gambler  walked 
on  the  deck  alone.  Then  came  two  modest 
nuns  dressed  in  gray  and  white.  Alfonso 
and  his  mother,  the  judge  and  Lucille,  and 
a  group  of  little  children  followed.  Dr.  Ar- 


118    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

gyle  and  a  Philadelphia  heiress  kept  step. 
Everybody  walked,  talked,  and  laughed, 
and  the  passengers  had  little  need  of  the 
ship's  doctor  now.  If  the  weather  is  fair 
the  decks  are  always  enlivened  as  a  steamer 
approaches  land.  The  next  day,  by  noon  at 
latest,  Ireland  and  Fastnet  Bock  would 
be  sighted,  if  the  ship's  reckoning  had  been 
correct. 

After  dinner,  Dr.  Argyle  was  walking 
the  deck  with  Lucille  in  the  star-light.  He 
had  told  her  much  of  his  family,  of  his 
talented  brother  in  the  Church,  and  of 
another  in  the  army ;  he  had  even  ventured 
to  speak  of  Lucille 's  grace  of  manner,  and 
she  feared  what  might  follow.  The  call  of 
Mrs.  Harris  relieved  Lucille  of  an  unpleas 
ant  situation. 

Secretly,  Lucille  was  pleased  to  escape 
from  Dr.  Argyle.  Something  in  his  manner 
told  her  that  he  was  not  sincere;  that  he 
was  a  schemer,  perhaps  a  fortune-seeker, 
and  she  gladly  rejoined  her  mother. 

Mrs.  Harris  and  her  children  often  won 
dered  how  matters  were  progressing  at 
home.  Alfonso  had  faith  in  his  father's 
ability  to  cope  with  the  strike,  but  Mrs. 
Harris  and  Lucille  were  much  worried. 
"Don't  let  us  trouble,"  said  Alfonso,  "till 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       119 

we  reach  Queenstown,  as  there  we  shall 
surely  get  a  cablegram  from  father." 

Just  then  Leo  joined  the  family,  and 
Lucille  taking' his  arm,  the  two  walked  the 
deck,  and  later  they  found  quiet  seats  in 
the  moonlight.  The  moon's  welcome  rays 
revealed  fleece-like  clouds  overhead  and 
changed  the  waters  astern  into  acres  of 
diamonds.  Gentle  breezes  fanned  the  cheeks 
of  two  troubled  lovers  who  thus  far  had 
kept  well  their  heart  secrets.  Lucille 's 
warm  and  sensitive  nature  yearned  for 
some  confidant  in  whom  she  could  find 
consolation.  Mrs.  Harris  never  quite  under 
stood  her  daughter.  Lucille  was  noble, 
generous,  and  true  in  her  affection.  Her 
ideal  of  marriage  was  that  the  busy  shuttle 
of  life  must  be  of  Divine  guidance,  and 
often  she  was  at  a  loss  to  understand  some 
of  the  deep  mysteries  that  had  clouded 
her  own  life.  Of  this  world's  blessings  her 
life  had  been  full,  except  she  could  not 
reconcile  some  of  her  late  experiences.  Of 
this,  of  course,  Leo  knew  nothing.  He  too 
had  had  a  cup  of  bliss  dashed  suddenly  to 
the  ground.  A  moment  of  anger  had 
destroyed  his  plans  for  life.  The  moon's 
soft  light  changed  Leo's  purpose  never  to 
speak  to  Lucille  of  his  affection  for  Rosie 


120    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Eicci,  and  he  now  frankly  told  her  the 
whole  story. 

At  first  Lucille  did  not  wish  to  believe 
that  Leo  had  ever  been  in  love,  as  her  own 
heart  had  turned  to  him  in  the  silent  hours 
of  the  night  when  the  pain  in  her  heart 
forbade  sleep. 

Trembling  she  said,  "Leo,  you  have 
given  Eosie  up  forever  then?" 

"Oh  no,  Miss  Harris,  it  was  Eosie  who 
said  to  me,  *  Good-bye,  Leo,  forever.'  She 
accepted  my  attentions  for  a  year.  Alas! 
Eosie 's  love  for  the  rich  man's  gold  I  fear 
was  more  powerful  than  her  love  for  me, 
a  poor  artist,  and  so  she  threw  back  the 
ruby  ring  and  my  mother's  cameo,  and 
crushed  my  heart  and  hopes.  In  accepting 
the  kind  invitation  of  your  brother  to 
accompany  your  family  on  this  trip,  I 
hoped  that  the  journey  might  heal  my 
suffering  soul." 

i  i  I  am  delighted, ' '  said  Lucille,  her  voice 
and  hand  still  trembling  a  little,  "that 
your  own  vow  was  not  broken. ' ' 

Leo's  olive  complexion  was  softened  in 
the  moon's  rays,  his  face  was  saddened  by 
the  recital  of  his  deep  affliction,  and  his 
dark  eyes  were  lowered,  as  he  looked  out 
upon  the  troubled  pathway  of  the  steamer. 
For  a  moment  Lucille  earnestly  gazed  at 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       121 

Leo  who  seemed  to  her  to  be  handsome  and 
noble,  but  he  appeared  lost  as  in  a  dream. 
Every  man  is  thought  to  be  noble  by  the 
woman  who  loves  him.  Then  she  took  both 
his  hands  in  hers  in  pity  and  said,  "Leo, 
be  brave  as  your  ancestors  were  brave. 
You  will  be  a  success  in  the  world  because 
you  have  remaining  your  intense  love  for 
art." 

"Yes,  Lucille,  and  I  think  I  shall  marry 
art  only." 

"Don't  be  rash,  Leo,  we  frail  human 
beings  know  little  in  advance  as  to  heaven 's 
plans." 

Few  forces  work  truer  in  nature  than 
the  principle  that  like  begets  like.  Leo 
confided  in  Lucille,  and  now  Lucille  con 
fided  in  Leo;  she  slowly  told  in  low  voice 
the  story  of  her  own  great  disappointment. 

"I  too,  once  had  an  ideal  lover.  Our  souls 
were  one ;  the  day  of  wedding  even  had  been 
fixed;  orders  for  an  expensive  trousseau 
had  been  sent  to  Paris;  the  details  of  the 
marriage  had  been  arranged,  a  long  jour 
ney  abroad  planned,  and  the  city  for  our 
future  home  was  selected.  These  things  had 
become  part  of  my  dreams,  and  the  joy 
of  anticipation  was  filling  my  cup  to  the 
brim. 

' '  One  evening,  in  the  moonlight,  such  as 


122    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

now  smiles  upon  us,  I  asked  Bernard  if  he 
would  read  a  short  note  which  I  had  just 
received,  and  tell  me  if  its  contents  were 
true.  Bernard  removed  the  letter  from  the 
envelope,  looked  at  the  signature,  and  read 
ing  turned  pale.  The  note  was  from  a  lady 
who  asked  if  I  was  aware  that  he  had 
offered  himself  to  another. 

"A  second  time  I  pressed  the  question 
to  know  if  the  contents  were  true,  and  he 
answered,  'Yes',  and  added  that  it  was  not 
his  fault  that  he  did  not  marry  the  lady. 
"  "Then  you  love  her  still,  Bernard?' 
"  'Yes,  Lucille,  but  I  love  you  also.' 
"In  anger  and  disappointed  love  I  left 
him.  Of  course  all  plans  for  the  marriage 
were  cancelled  at  once. '  First  love  or  none, ' 
was  then  written  on  my  heart,  where  it  still 
remains. ' ' 

Lucille  wept  while  Leo  sat  surprised. 
He  knew  not  what  to  say,  for  her  heart- 
story  and  heart  edict, ' '  First  love  or  none, ' ' 
had  opened  his  own  wounds  afresh,  and 
had  shut  the  door  to  Lucille 's  heart  per 
haps  forever. 

"Come,  Lucille,"  a  call  of  Mrs.  Harris, 
aroused  the  courage  of  Leo,  and  he  said 
to  Lucille,  who  with  a  flushed  face  looked 
more  beautiful  than  ever,  "At  least  we 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       123 

should  be  friends. "  ' '  Yes, ' '  she  murmured, 
and  Mrs.  Harris  and  her  daughter  retired. 

The  night  before,  the  second  officer  had 
told  Lucille  that  land  would  probably  be 
seen  early  next  day  on  the  port-side.  All 
the  morning,  Mrs.  Harris  was  awaiting 
anxiously  more  news  about  the  great  strike 
at  Harrisville. 

"Land,  on  the  port-side,  sir!"  shouted 
the  forward  lookout,  just  as  four  bells 
struck  the  hour  of  ten  o'clock.  The  officer 
on  duty,  pacing  the  bridge,  raised  his 
glass  and  in  a  moment  he  answered,  "Ay! 
Ay!  The  Skelligs." 

"What  do  they  mean?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Harris  of  a  sailor  passing.  "The  officer  has 
sighted  land,  madam.  Don't  you  see  the 
specks  of  blue  low  down  on  the  horizon  to 
the  northeast!  That's  the  Skelligs,  three 
rocky  islets  off  the  southwest  coast  of 
Ireland,  near  where  I  was  born,  and  where 
my  wife  Katy,  and  the  babies  live.  That's 
where  my  dear  old  mother  also  keeps 
watch  for  her  Patsie." 

"Is  your  name  Patsie?"  Alfonso  asked. 

"Yes,  sir,  Patsie  Fitzgerald,  and  I'm 
proud  of  my  name,  my  family,  the  Emerald 
Isle,  and  the  fine  steamer  that's  taking 
us  safely  home,  and  may  God  bless  all  you 


124   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

fine  people,  and  keep  my  wife  and  babies 
and  my  dear  old  mother!" 

"Thank  you!"  said  Alfonso, "here,  Pat- 
sie,  is  a  little  money  for  the  babies," 
and  the  sailor  tipped  his  hat  and  bowed 
his  thanks. 

The  signal  officer  on  Brea  Head,  Valentia 
Island,  was  soon  exchanging  signals  with 
the  "Majestic,"  and  five  minutes  later  the 
sighting  of  the  "Majestic"  was  cabled  to 
the  Lloyds  of  Liverpool  and  London  and 
back  to  New  York,  via  Valentia  Bay,  and  it 
was  known  that  evening  in  Harrisville  that 
the  Harris  family  were  safely  nearing 
Queenstown. 

Travelers  experience  delightful  feelings 
as  the  old  world  is  approached  for  the 
first  time.  All  that  has  been  read  or  told, 
and  half  believed,  is  now  felt  to  be  true, 
and  you  are  delighted  that  you  are  so  soon 
to  see  for  yourself  the  "Mother  Islands," 
and  Europe  which  have  peopled  the  west 
ern  world  with  sons  and  daughters. 

With  the  precision  of  the  New  York  and 
Jersey  City  ferries  the  ocean  steamers 
enter  the  harbors  of  the  old  and  new 
world.  On  the  southwestern  coast  of  Ire 
land  is  Bantry  Bay,  memorable  in  history 
as  having  been  twice  entered  by  the  French 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       125 

navy  for  the  purpose  of  invading  Ireland. 
In  sight  is  Valentia,  the  British  terminus 
of  the  first  Atlantic  cable  to  North  Amer 
ica,  also  the  terminus  of  the  cables  laid  in 
1858,  1865,  and  1866,  and  of  others  since 
laid.  The  distance  is  1635  miles  from  Val 
entia  Bay  to  St.  John,  Newfoundland. 

From  the  deck  of  the  steamer,  Ireland 
seems  old  and  worn.  Her  rocky  capes  and 
mountainous  headlands  reach  far  into  the 
ever  encroaching  Atlantic  like  the  bony 
fingers  of  a  giant.  Fastnet  Rock  lighthouse 
on  the  right,  telling  the  mariner  of  half- 
sunken  rocks,  and  Cape  Clear  on  the  left, 
soon  drop  behind. 

Approaching  Queenstown,  the  green 
forests  and  fields  and  little  white  homes 
of  fishermen  and  farmers  are  visible  along 
the  receding  shore.  Eoach's  Point,  four 
miles  from  Queenstown  is  reached,  where 
the  mails  are  landed  and  received,  if  the 
weather  i&  bad,  but  Cap  tain  Morgan  decided 
to  steam  into  Queenstown  Harbor,  one  of 
the  finest  bays  in  the  world,  being  a  shel 
tered  basin  of  ten  square  miles,  and  the 
entrance  strongly  fortified.  Within  the 
harbor  are  several  islands  occupied  by 
barracks,  ordnance  and  convict  depots, 
and  powder  magazines.  This  deep  and 


126    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

capacious  harbor  can  float  the  navies  of 
the  world.  In  beauty  it  compares  favorably 
with  the  Bay  of  Naples. 

Cove,  or  Queenstown,  as  Cove  is  called, 
since  the  visit  of  Queen  Victoria  in  1849, 
has  a  population  of  less  than  ten  thousand. 
It  is  situated  on  the  terraced  and  sheltered 
south  side  of  Great  Island.  Here  for  his 
health  came  Eev.  Charles  Wolfe,  author  of 
"Not  a  drum  was  heard,  not  a  funeral 
note." 

In  the  amphitheatre-shaped  town  on 
parallel  streets  rise  tiers  of  white  stone 
houses,  relieved  by  spire  and  tower.  On 
neighboring  highest  hills  are  old  castles, 
forts,  and  a  tall  white  lighthouse. 

One  or  more  of  Her  Majesty's  armored 
warships  may  always  be  seen  within  the 
bay.  The  "Majestic"  dropped  anchor  in 
the  quiet  harbor, and  the  company's  lighter 
came  along  side  with  passengers  for  Liver 
pool,  and  to  take  ashore  the  Queenstown 
passengers,  and  the  mails  which,  checked 
out,  numbered  over  1600  sacks.  The  trans 
atlantic  mail  is  put  aboard  the  express  and 
hurried  to  Dublin,  thence  from  Kingston  to 
Holyhead,  via  a  swift  packet  across  St. 
George's  Channel,  and  to  its  destination, 
thus  saving  valuable  hours  in  its  delivery 
throughout  Europe. 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       127 

Several  small  boats  appeared  bringing 
natives  who  offered  for  sale  fruit,  Irish 
laces,  and  canes  made  of  black  bog  oak, 
with  the  shamrock  carved  on  the  handles. 
Mrs.  Harris  was  much  pleased  to  renew 
her  acquaintance  with  the  scenes  of  her 
girlhood,  having  sailed  from  Queenstown 
for  Boston  when  she  was  only  ten  years 
old. 

The  baggage  was  left  on  the  steamer  to 
go  forward  to  Liverpool,  and  Alfonso  led 
the  way  aboard  the  lighter,  and  from  the 
dock  to  the  Queen's  Hotel.  Each  carried 
a  small  satchel,  with  change  of  clothing, 
till  the  trunks  should  be  overtaken. 

At  the  hotel  Alfonso  found  the  longed- 
for  cablegram  from  his  father  which  read 
as  follows: — 

HARRISVILLE, 

Mrs.  Reuben  Harris, 

Queen's  Hotel,  Queenstown,  Ireland. 
Employees  still  out.  Mills  guarded.  Will 
hire  new  men.  Searles  visits  Australia.  All 
well.  Enjoy  yourselves.  Love. 

REUBEN  HARRIS. 

"It's  too  bad  that  father  and  Gertrude 
couldn't  be  with  us,"  said  Mrs.  Harris. 

The  lunch  ashore  of  Irish  chops,  new 
vegetables,  and  fruit  was  a  decided  im- 


128    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

provement  on  the  food  of  the  last  few  days. 
The  Harrises  after  a  stormy  sea  voyage 
were  delighted  again  to  put  foot  on 
mother  earth,  to  enjoy  the  green  terraces, 
ivy-clad  walls,  cottages,  and  churches,  and 
also  to  see  the  shamrock,  a  tiny  clover, 
which  St.  Patrick  held  up  before  the  Irish 
people  to  prove  the  Holy  Trinity.  Lucille 
found  the  pretty  yellow  furz,  the  flower 
which  Linnseus,  the  famous  Swedish  bot 
anist,  kissed. 

Alfonso  suggested  that  they  take  the 
part  rail  and  part  river  route  of  a  dozen 
miles  to  Cork,  the  third  city  of  Ireland. 
En  route  are  seen  beautiful  villas,  green 
park-like  fields,  rich  woods,  and  a  terrace 
that  adorns  the  steep  banks  of  the  Eiver 
Lee.  A  ruined  castle  at  Monkstown  is 
pointed  out,  which  a  thrifty  woman  built, 
paying  the  workman  in  goods,  on  which 
she  cleared  enough  to  pay  for  the  castle, 
except  an  odd  groat,  hence  the  saying, 
"The  castle  cost  only  a  groat." 

A  delightful  day  was  spent  at  Cork,  an 
ancient  city,  which  pagans  and  Danes  once 
occupied,  and  which  both  Cromwell  and 
Maryborough  captured.  Here  Rev.  Thomas 
Lee,  by  Ms  preaching,  inclined  William 
Penn,  "Father  of  Pennsylvania,"  to 


Life  at  Sea  a  Kaleidoscope       129 

become  a  Quaker.  Here  was  born  Sheridan 
Knowles,  the  dramatist,  and  other  famous 
writers. 

After  visiting  the  lakes  of  Killarney  and 
Dublin,  the  Harris  family  took  a  hasty 
trip  through  England. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

COLONEL   HARRIS   RETURNS   TO   HAEKISVILLE 

THE  strong  will  of  Eeuben  Harris  was  to 
meet  its  match,  in  fact  its  defeat.  His  plans 
for  a  well  rounded  life  were  nearing  a 
climax  when  the  telegram  from  his  mana 
ger  Wilson  changed  all  his  plans,  and 
standing  on  the  pier,  as  his  family  steamed 
away,  he  experienced  the  horrors  of  a 
terrible  nightmare. 

Mechanically  he  shook  his  white  hand 
kerchief,  saw  his  family  carried  far  out 
to  sea  as  if  to  another  world,  and  he 
longed  for  some  yawning  earthquake  to 
engulf  him.  He  stood  transfixed  to  the 
dock;  the  perspiration  of  excitement,  now 
checked,  was  chilling  him  when  Gertrude 
caught  his  arm  and  said,  "Father,  what 
is  the  matter  ?" 

Colonel  Harris's  strong  frame  trembled 
like  a  ship  that  had  struck  a  hidden  rock, 
and  then  he  rallied  as  if  from  a  stupor, 
and  taking  Mr.  Searles's  arm  was  helped 
to  a  carriage. 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  131 

He  said,  "You  must  pardon  me,  Mr. 
Searles,  if  for  a  moment  I  seemed 
unmanned.  It  is  a  terrible  ordeal  to  be 
thus  suddenly  separated  from  my  family." 

"Yes,  Colonel  Harris,  I  had  a  similar 
experience  recently  on  the  docks  in  Liver 
pool  when  my  family  bade  me  adieu,  and 
I  came  alone  to  America.  Separation  for 
a  time  even  from  those  we  love  is  trying." 

The  heroic  in  Colonel  Harris  soon 
enabled  him  to  plan  well  for  the  afternoon. 
He  telegraphed  Mr.  Wilson  of  his  decision 
to  return,  and  then  said,  "We  will  leave 
New  York  at  6  o'clock  this  evening  for 
Harrisville.  Mr.  Searles,  we  will  try  to 
use  the  afternoon  for  your  pleasure. 
Driver,  please  take  us  to  the  Windsor 
Hotel,  via  the  Produce  Exchange."  The 
colonel  having  left  the  Waldorf  did  not 
wish,  under  the  circumstances,  again  to 
enter  his  name  on  its  register. 

The  ride  down  West  Street,  New  York, 
at  midday,  is  anything  but  enjoyable,  as 
few  thoroughfares  are  more  crowded  with 
every  kind  of  vehicle  conveying  merchan 
dise  from  ship  to  warehouse,  and  from 
warehouse  to  ship  and  cars.  However,  the 
ride  impressed  Searles  with  the  immensity 
of  the  trade  of  the  metropolis.  West  Street 


132    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

leads  to  Battery  Park,  the  Produce,  and 
Stock  Exchanges,  which  Colonel  Harris 
desired  Mr.  Searles  and  his  daughter  Ger 
trude  to  see  in  the  busy  part  of  the  day. 

Colonel  Harris  explained  that  here  in 
Battery  Park  terminated  the  Metropolitan 
Elevated  Bailway.  A  railway  in  the  air 
with  steam-engines  and  coaches  crowded 
with  people  interested  Mr.  Searles  greatly. 

"In  London,"  he  said,  "we  are  hurried 
about  under  ground,  in  foul  air,  and  dark 
ness  often." 

"Here  at  Battery  Park.  Mr.  Searles, 
November  25,  1783,  Sir  Guy  Carleton's 
British  army  embarked.  Our  New  Yorkers 
still  celebrate  the  date  as  Evacuation  Day. 
Near  by  at  an  earlier  date  Hendrick  Chris- 
tianson,  agent  of  a  Dutch  fur  trading 
company,  built  four  small  houses  and  a 
redoubt,  the  foundation  of  America's 
metropolis.  In  1626  Peter  Minuit,  first 
governor  of  the  New  Netherlands,  bought 
for  twenty-six  dollars  all  Manhattan  Is 
land." 

Mr.  Searles  visited  the  tall  Washington 
Building  which  occupies  the  ground  where 
formerly  stood  the  head-quarters  of  Lords 
Cornwallis  and  Howe.  He  told  Gertrude 
that  he  had  read  that,  in  July,  1776,  the 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  133 

people  came  in  vast  crowds  to  Battery 
Park  to  celebrate  the  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence,  and  that  they  knocked  over  the 
equestrian  statue  of  George  III.,  which  was 
melted  into  bullets  to  be  used  against  the 
British. 

"Yes,"  replied  Colonel  Harris,  "in 
early  days,  Americans  doubtless  lacked 
appreciation  of  art,  but  we  always  gave 
our  cousins  across-sea  a  warm  reception. ' ' 

"Colonel  Harris,"  said  Mr.  Searles,  "it 
has  always  puzzled  me  to  understand  why 
you  should  have  built  near  Boston  the 
Bunker  Hill  Monument." 

"Mr.  Searles,  because  we  Americans 
whipped  the  British." 

"Oh  no,  Colonel,  that  fight  was  a  British 
victory. ' ' 

"Father,"  said  Gertrude,  "Mr.  Searles 
is  right ;  the  British  troops,  under  General 
Gage,  drove  the  American  forces  off  both 
Breed's  Hill  and  Bunker  Hill.  The  obelisk 
of  Quincy  granite  was  erected  at  Charles- 
town,  I  think,  to  commemorate  the  stout 
resistance  which  the  raw  provincial  militia 
made  against  regular  British  soldiers, 
confirming  the  Americans  in  the  belief  that 
their  liberty  could  be  won." 

Mr.  Searles  thanked  Miss  Harris  for  her 


134    The  II  arris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

timely  aid  and  added  that  a  patriot  is  a 
rebel  who  succeeds,  and  a  rebel  is  a  patriot 
who  fails.  He  observed  also  the  witty  sign 
over  the  entrance  of  a  dealer  in  American 
flags,  "Colors  warranted  not  to  run." 

The  party  drove  to  the  Produce  Ex 
change,  one  of  the  most  impressive  build 
ings  in  New  York.  It  is  of  rich  Italian 
Renaissance  architecture.  Beneath  the  pro 
jecting  galley-prows  in  the  main  hall,  the 
fierce  bargaining  of  excited  members 
reminded  Mr.  Searles  of  a  pitched  battle 
without  cavalry  or  artillery. 

Gertrude  was  anxious  to  climb  the  richly 
decorated  campanile  that  rises  two  hun 
dred  and  twenty-five  feet,  which  commands 
an  unrivalled  bird's-eye  view  of  lower 
New  York,  the  bay,  Brooklyn,  Long  Island, 
and  the  mountains  of  New  Jersey.  All 
hoped  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  "Majestic," 
but  she  was  down  the  Narrows  and  out 
of  sight. 

Mr.  Searles  desired  to  see  Trinity 
Church,  so  he  was  driven  up  Broadway 
to  the  head  of  Wall  Street.  Its  spire  is 
graceful  and  two  hundred  and  eighty-four 
feet  high.  The  land  on  which  it  stands  was 
granted  in  1697  by  the  English  govern 
ment.  There  were  also  other  magnificent 
endowments.  Trinity  Parish,  or  Corpora- 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  135 

tion,  is  the  richest  single  church  organiza 
tion  in  the  United  States,  enjoying  rev 
enues  of  over  five  hundred  thousand  dol 
lars  a  year.  In  Revolutionary  times  the 
royalist  clergy  persisted  in  reading  prayers 
for  the  king  of  England  till  their  voices 
were  drowned  by  the  drum  and  fife  of 
patriots  marching  up  the  center  aisle. 

It  was  now  past  two  o'clock  and  the 
Harris  party  was  driven  to  the  Hotel 
Windsor  for  lunch.  Promptly  at  six  o  'clock 
the  conductor  of  the  fast  Western  Express 
shouted,  "All  aboard,"  and  Colonel  Har 
ris,  Gertrude,  and  Mr.  Searles  in  their 
own  private  car,  left  busy  New  York  for 
Harrisville. 

The  Express  creeps  slowly  along  the 
steel  way,  under  cross-streets,  through 
arched  tunnels,  and  over  the  Harlem  River 
till  the  Hudson  is  reached,  and  then  this 
world-famed  river  is  followed  142  miles  to 
Albany,  the  capital  of  the  Empire  State. 
This  tide-water  ride  on  the  American 
Rhine  is  unsurpassed.  The  Express  is 
whirled  through  tunnels,  over  bridges, 
past  the  magnificent  summer  houses  of 
the  magnates  of  the  metropolis  that  adorn 
the  high  bluffs,  past  wooded  hill  and  wind 
ing  dale,  grand  mountains,  and  sparkling 
rivulets.  Every  object  teems  with  historic 


136    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

memories.  This  ride,  in  June,  is  surpassed 
only  when  the  forests  are  in  a  blaze  of 
autumnal  splendor. 

For  twenty  miles  in  sight  are  the  battle- 
mented  cliffs  of  the  Palisades.  Mr.  Searles 
was  familiar  with  the  facile  pen  of 
Washington  Irving,  and  from  the  car 
caught  sight  of  "  Sunny  Side"  covered 
with  flourishing  vines,  grown  from  slips, 
which  Irving  secured  from  Sir  Walter 
Scott  at  Abbottsford. 

Passing  Tarrytown  Colonel  Harris  said, 
"Here  Major  Andre  was  captured,  and 
the  treachery  of  Benedict  Arnold  exposed, 
otherwise,  we  might  to-day  have  been  pay 
ing  tribute  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. ' ' 

"Yes/'  replied  Mr.  Searles,  "George 
Washington,  patriot,  hung  Major  Andre, 
the  spy.  You  made  Washington  president, 
and  we  gave  Andre  a  monument  in  West 
minster  Abbey. " 

Sing  Sing  and  Peekskill  were  left  be 
hind,  and  the  Express  was  approaching  the 
picturesque  Highlands,  a  source  of  never 
failing  delight  to  tourists.  West  Point,  the 
site  of  the  famous  United  States  Military 
Academy,  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Hudson 
in  the  very  bosom  of  the  Highlands. 

The  sun  set  in  royal  splendor  behind  the 
Catskills ; 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  137 

"And  lo !  the  Catskills  print  the  distant  sky, 
And  o'er  their  airy  tops  the  faint  clouds  driven 
So  softly  blending  that  the  cheated  eye 
Forgets  or  which  is  earth,  or  which  is  heaven." 

"Mr.  Searles/'said  Colonel  Harris, "be 
fore  leaving  America  you  must  climb  the 
Catskills.  Thousands  every  summer,  escap 
ing  from  the  heat  and  worry  of  life,  visit 
those  wind-swept  'hills  of  the  sky.'  There 
they  find  rest  and  happiness  in  great 
forests,  shady  nooks,  lovely  walks,  and 
fine  drives. 

"There  are  several  hotels  in  the  vicinity. 
From  one  hotel  on  an  overhanging  cliff 
you  behold  stretched  out  before  you  a 
hundred  miles  of  the  matchless  panorama 
of  the  Hudson.  The  Highlands  lie  to  the 
south,  the  Berkshire  Hills  and  Green 
Mountains  to  the  east,  and  the  Adiron- 
dacks  to  the  north.  The  latter  is  a  para 
dise  for  disciples  of  Nimrod  and  of  Izaak 
Walton,  and  a  blessed  sanitarium  for 
Americans,  most  of  whom  under  skies  less 
gray  than  yours  do  their  daily  work  with 
little  if  any  reserve  vitality." 

Gertrude,  who  had  excused  herself  some 
minutes  before,  now  returned.  She  had 
been  visiting  in  an  adjoining  Pullman  a 


138    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

friend  of  hers,  whom  she  had  met  for  a 
moment  in  the  Grand  Central  Station 
before  the  train  started.  Calling  Colonel 
Harris  aside,  she  said,  "Father,  Mrs. 
Nellie  Eastlake,  my  classmate  at  Smith 
College,  is  going  with  friends  to  the 
Pacific  Coast;  shall  I  ask  her  to  dine  with 
us!" 

"Certainly,  child,  invite  her,  and  I  am 
sure,  Mr.  Searles,  that  you  concur  in  my 
daughter's  plan  to  increase  our  party  at 
dinner,  do  you  not?" 

"Most  assuredly,  Colonel." 

A  little  later  charming  Mrs.  Eastlake 
followed  Gertrude  into  the  "Alfonso," 
and  soon  dinner  was  announced.  The 
steward,  thoughtlessly,  had  forgotten  in 
New  York  to  purchase  flowers  for  the 
table,  but  they  were  not  missed. 

There  are  women  in  this  world  whose 
presence  is  so  enjoyable  that  they  rival 
the  charm  of  both  art  and  flowers.  Their 
voices,  their  grace  of  manner,  their  inter 
est  in  you  and  your  welfare,  laden  the  air 
with  an  indescribable  something  that  exhil 
arates.  Their  presence  is  like  the  sunshine 
that  warms  and  perfumes  a  conservatory; 
you  inhale  the  odors  of  roses,  pinks,  and 
climbing  jessamines.  Such  a  woman  was 
Nellie  Eastlake.  She  was  tall  and  winning. 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  139 

The  marble  heart  of  the  Venus  of  Milo 
would  have  warmed  in  her  presence. 
Shakespeare  would  have  said  of  her  eyes, 
"They  do  mislead  the  morn." 

Mrs.  Eastlake  was  in  sympathy  with  the 
Harrises  in  their  keen  disappointments. 
She  possessed  the  tact  to  put  Mr.  Searles 
in  the  happiest  frame  of  mind,  so  that  he 
half  forgot  his  mission  to  America.  The 
Colonel  also  forgot,  for  the  hour,  that  his 
family  were  absent,  and  that  his  workmen 
in  Harrisville  were  on  a  strike. 

Mrs.  Eastlake  in  her  girlhood  had  con 
verted  all  who  knew  her  into  ardent 
friends.  While  at  school  on  the  Hudson, 
she  met  the  rich  father  of  a  schoolmate. 
Later  she  was  invited  to  travel  with  this 
friend  and  her  father,  Mr.  Eastlake,  a 
widower,  among  the  Thousand  Islands 
and  down  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  She  so 
charmed  the  millionaire  that  after  gradua 
tion  at  Smith  College  she  accepted  and 
married  him.  She  was  now  journeying  to 
her  palatial  home  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  She 
skilfully  helped  to  guide  the  table-talk, 
avoiding  unwelcome  topics.  The  dinner 
over,  a  half-hour  was  spent  with  music 
and  magazines,  and  the  party  retired  for 
the  night. 

Breakfast  was   served  as  the  Express 


140    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

approached  Lake  Erie.  It  was  agreed  that 
Mr.  Searles  should  accompany  Mrs.  East- 
lake  and  Gertrude  in  the  car  "Alfonso," 
and  spend  a  day  or  two  at  Niagara  Falls. 

Colonel  Harris  kissed  Gertrude,  said 
good-bye  to  all,  and  taking  a  seat  in  a 
Pullman,  continued  alone  on  his  journey 
to  Harris  ville.  Eeturning  home  he  hoped, 
if  possible,  to  set  matters  right  at  the 
steel  mills  before  Mr.  Searles  arrived. 

Left  to  himself,  he  now  had  opportunity 
for  reflection.  The  time  was,  when  he  was 
as  proud  of  his  ability  to  do  an  honest 
day's  work  at  the  forge  as  he  was  to-day 
proud  of  his  great  wealth  and  growing 
power  in  the  manufacturing  world.  Then 
he  was  poor,  but  he  was  conscious  of 
forces  hidden  within  which  if  used  on  the 
right  things  and  at  the  right  time  and 
place  he  believed  would  make  him  a  man 
of  influence. 

He  was  able  then  with  his  own  hands 
to  fashion  a  bolt,  a  nail,  or  horseshoe,  un 
surpassed  in  the  county.  He  was  handy  in 
shaping  and  tempering  tools  of  every  kind. 
When  he  ate  his  cold  dinner,  reheating  his 
coffee  over  the  forge  coals,  he  often 
thought  of  the  dormant  fires  within  him, 
and  he  wondered  if  they  would  ever  be 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  141 

fanned  to  a  white  heat.  For  years  he  had 
toiled  hard  to  pay  the  rent  of  his  forge  and 
home  and  his  monthly  bills.  His  wife  was 
saving  and  helpful  in  a  thousand  ways, 
but  life  was  a  hard  struggle  from  sun  to 
sun. 

One  summer's  day  when  work  was 
slack,  there  came  to  his  shop  a  tall  Eng 
lishman  to  get  a  small  job  done.  So  well 
was  the  work  performed  by  Harris  that 
the  Englishman,  whose  name  was  James 
Ingram,  said  to  Harris,  "I  believe  you  are 
the  mechanic  I  have  long  been  looking  for. 
In  early  life  I  was  apprenticed  in  England 
to  a  famous  iron-master,  and  when  the 
Bessemer  patents  for  converting  iron  into 
steel  were  issued,  it  was  my  good  fortune 
to  be  a  foreman  where  the  first  experi 
ments  were  made  by  Henry  Bessemer  him 
self,  and  so  I  came  to  have  a  practical 
knowledge  of  Bessemer 's  valuable  inven 
tion;  but  my  health  failed,  and  for  six 
months  I  have  been  in  your  country  in 
search  of  it,  and  now  being  well  again,  I 
plan  to  start  if  possible  a  Bessemer  steel 
plant  in  America.  Can  you  help  me?" 

Reuben  Harris  was  quick  to  see  that 
great  profits  might  be  realized  from  Bes 
semer 's  patents  and  Ingram 's  ideas,  and 


142    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

promptly  said,  "Yes,  but  I  must  first  know 
more  about  these  patents  and  their  work 
ings."  Before  a  week  had  passed,  he  had 
learned  much  from  Ingram  concerning  the 
practical  working  of  the  Bessemer  process 
of  converting  iron  into  steel.  Bessemer 
claimed  that  his  steel  rails  would  last 
much  longer  than  the  common  iron  rail 
then  in  use. 

Beuben  Harris  easily  comprehended  that 
the  profits  would  be  large.  It  was  verbally 
agreed  between  Harris  and  Ingram  that 
they  would  share  equally  any  and  all 
profits  realized.  Ingram  had  contributed 
reliable  knowledge,  Harris  was  to  enlist 
capital,  and  both  were  to  make  use  of 
all  their  talents,  for  they  were  both  skilled 
mechanics. 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  for  Harris 
to  secure  capital,  for  capital  is  often 
lynx-eyed,  and  usually  it  is  very  conserva 
tive.  It  was  especially  cautious  of  invest 
ment  in  Harris's  schemes,  as  the  practical 
workings  of  the  Bessemer  process  were 
not  yet  fully  understood  in  America. 

The  profits  promised  by  both  Harris 
and  Ingram  to  capitalists  were  great,  and 
this  possibly  made  capital  suspicious. 
Finally  enough  ready  money  was  obtained 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to  Harrisville  143 

to  make  a  successful  experiment,  which  so 
convinced  a  few  rich  men  that  more  money 
was  immediately  advanced,  and  the  steel 
plant  was  soon  furnishing  most  satisfac 
tory  steel  rails  at  greatly  reduced  cost  for 
both  the  manufacturer  and  consumer. 

Harris's  ability  to  manage  kept  pace 
with  the  rapid  growth  of  the  new  enter 
prise,  while  Ingram 's  knowledge  and 
inventive  talents  proved  that  as  superin 
tendent  of  the  steel  plant  he  was  the 
right  man  in  the  right  place. 

At  first  Harris  found  great  difficulty  in 
convincing  railway  managers  that  the  steel 
rail  would  render  enough  more  service  to 
compensate  for  the  additional  cost.  The 
most  anybody  could  say  in  favor  of  the 
steel  rail  was  largely  theoretical.  The 
Bessemer  steel  rail  had  had  only  a  few 
months  of  actual  service,  long  enough, 
however,  to  demonstrate  that  at  the  joints 
it  would  not  batter  and  splinter  like  the 
iron  rail.  This  was,  indeed,  a  desideratum 
and  many  orders  came  in.  Not  only  was 
the  steel  mill  kept  running  day  and  night, 
but  orders  accumulated  so  rapidly  that 
large  additions  were  made  to  the  mills. 

Money  for  all  these  improvements  and 
the  capital  necessary  to  carry  on  the  in- 


144    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

creasing  business  were  matters  of  vital 
importance  to  the  success  of  the  company. 
To  manage  a  business  with  greatest 
advantage  quite  as  much  ready  cash  is 
needed  as  is  invested  in  the  plant,  other 
wise  the  banker's  discount  becomes  a 
heavy  lien  on  the  profits,  and  the  stock 
holders  grumble  at  small  dividends. 

Possibly  Eeuben  Harris  overestimated 
the  value  of  his  service  in  financiering 
the  business;  at  least  he  came  to  believe 
that  he  earned,  and  ought  to  have  a  larger 
interest  than  James  Ingram.  Ingram,  be 
came  so  cramped  by  assessments  and 
money  obligations  that  he  was  obliged  to 
sell  to  Harris  most  of  his  interest  in  the 
steel  plant.  Harris's  interests  increased, 
till  practically  he  was  the  owner  of  the 
Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Works,  and  much 
property  besides.  He  was  quoted  as  a 
millionaire,  while  James  Ingram  was 
superintendent  of  only  a  department  of 
the  steel  works,  and  his  income  was  nomi 
nal.  Often  he  felt  that  great  injustice  had 
been  done  him.  Several  times  he  had  talked 
the  matter  over  with  Colonel  Harris,  but 
with  little  satisfaction. 

The  great  wrong  done  to  James  Ingram, 
to  whom  Harris  was  so  largely  indebted  for 


Col.  Harris  Returns  to 


the  initial  and  practical  knowledge  of 
successfully  manufacturing  steel  rails  was 
uppermost  in  Eeuben  Harris's  mind  as 
the  express  hurried  him  back  to  Harris- 
ville. 


CHAPTER  IX 

CAPITAL  AND  LABOR  IN   CONFERENCE 

COLONEL  HARRIS'S  awakened  conscience  was 
considering  seriously  the  question,  "How 
can  I  right  this  wrong  done  to  Ingram!'' 
when  the  Express  stopped  at  a  station 
thirty  miles  out  of  Harris ville,  and  into  his 
car  came  the  son  of  James  Ingram,  George 
Ingram  who  was  now  superintendent  of 
the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.'s  plant. 
Somebody,  perhaps  Gertrude,  had  tele 
graphed  from  Buffalo  to  the  superintend 
ent  to  tell  him  on  which  train  Colonel 
Harris  expected  to  return. 

George  Ingram  was  visibly  affected  as 
he  took  the  proffered  hand  of  Eeuben 
Harris,  and  inquired  about  his  health  and 
the  whereabouts  and  welfare  of  his  family. 
Harris  implored  young  Ingram  to  tell  him 
all  about  the  strike,  its  latest  phases,  and 
what  the  municipal  authorities  were  doing 
for  the  protection  of  his  property.  George 
Ingrain  gave  him  a  brief  history  of  the 
troubles  up  to  the  time  of  his  leaving 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  147 

Harrisville.  He  told  how  the  manager 
aided  by  the  company's  general  counsel, 
Mr.  Webster,  had  used  every  possible 
argument  with  the  workingmen's  commit 
tee;  that  a  statement  even  had  been 
submitted,  showing  that  very  small  or 
practically  no  profits  had  resulted  from 
recent  contracts,  which  were  now  being 
completed  by  the  company.  The  effort 
to  arrive  at  a  satisfactory  adjustment 
with  the  employees  was  thus  far  absolutely 
fruitless.  Since  daylight  the  four  thousand 
men  had  been  parading  the  streets  with 
music  and  clubs,  forcing  employees  of 
other  establishments  to  quit  work,  and 
threatening  to  destroy  the  steel  plant. 

The  color  in  Colonel  Harris's  face  came 
and  went  as  he  listened,  showing  a  white 
heat  of  indignation.  Ingram  sat  facing  his 
employer,  watching  the  emotions  of  a 
strong  man,  and  not  then  daring  to  offer 
any  suggestion,  for  he  felt  strongly  in 
behalf  of  the  employees,  who  always  looked 
upon  him  as  their  friend. 

Colonel  Harris  was  a  man  of  powerful 
build,  wide  forehead,  overhanging  brows, 
broad  chest  and  shoulders,  short  thick  neck, 
and  strong  arms  developed  at  the  anvil. 
His  superintendent  from  boyhood  had 


148    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

studied  him,  but  never  before  had  he  seen 
the  lion  in  his  employer  so  aroused. 

Arriving  at  Harrisville  the  wealthy  iron 
master,  accompanied  by  his  superintendent, 
stepped  into  his  own  private  carriage,  and 
immediately  drove  to  the  general  offices 
of  the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.  The 
directors  of  the  company  were  in  special 
session  to  devise  means  of  protecting  their 
threatened  property  and  of  crushing  the 
strike. 

B.  C.  Wilson,  the  manager,  rose  to  greet 
Colonel  Harris,  who  shook  hands  with 
him  and  the  directors,  and  then  the  meet 
ing  was  resumed,  Harris  acting  as  chair 
man  of  the  board.  Colonel  Harris  soon 
grasped  the  situation,  and  he  approved  of 
all  that  his  directors  and  manager  had 
done. 

Rising  to  his  feet,  in  a  firm  tone,  he 
made  a  vigorous  talk  to  his  board :  '  '  Gen 
tlemen,  my  views  as  to  the  best  method  of 
dealing  with  the  important  question  before 
us  are  known  to  some  of  you.  Four 
years  ago  a  similar  trouble  perplexed  our 
company,  and  our  failure  then  to  act 
decisively  resulted  in  prolonging  the  dis 
content  among  our  employees.  Their 
purposes  are  as  apparent  today  as  then, 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  149 

viz.,  to  rule  or  ruin  our  gigantic  enterprise. 
Capital  and  labor  should  be  the  best  of 
friends.  Unfortunately,  trusts  and  labor 
organizations  are  alike  avaricious  and 
selfish. 

4 'Centuries  ago,  in  Belgium,  weavers 
dictated  terms  to  capital,  and  hurled  rich 
men  from  balconies  to  death  upon  spears 
below.  This  unnatural  revolution  lasted 
for  a  short  time  only;  brains  and  wealth 
again  acquired  control,  and  they  always 
will  control.  To  yield  to  our  employees  the 
privilege  of  fixing  their  own  wages,  and 
a  voice  in  directing  the  affairs  of  our 
company  is  to  cloud  or  mortgage  our 
capital.  This  is  a  most  unreasonable  de 
mand.  Why  should  they  expect  us  to  share 
with  them  our  property,  title  to  which  the 
United  States  has  guaranteed? 

"If  our  state,  or  national  government 
cannot  or  will  not  defend  us  in  the  title 
to  our  property,  on  which  they  yearly  levy 
taxes,  then  we  will  place  our  interests  be 
neath  a  flag  that  can  and  will  give  ample 
protection.  This  terrible  uncertainty  as  to 
titles  and  values  in  the  United  States  will 
yet  wreck  the  republic." 

It  was  natural  that  the  directors  should 
heartily  approve  Colonel  Harris's  utter- 


150    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

ances,  as  lie  was  the  owner  of  five-sixths 
of  the  stock  of  the  company.  He  then  asked 
Mr.  Webster  their  general  counsel,  to  read 
to  the  board  the  position  which  the  com 
pany  proposed  to  take  before  the  public. 

Mr.  Webster  was  a  tall,  elderly  man,  who 
had  served  five  years  on  the  supreme 
bench  of  his  state,  an  attorney  of  few 
words,  but  well  versed  in  the  laws  of  his 
country,  especially  in  corporation  laws. 
Holding  a  sheet  of  paper  in  his  hands  he 
read,  "The  Harris ville  Iron  &  Steel  Com 
pany  claims  the  fundamental  right  to 
manage  its  own  business  in  its  own  way, 
in  accordance  with  and  under  the  protec 
tion  of  the  laws  of  the  land/7 

The  board  voted  its  approval  of  the 
attorney's  position,  and  also  voted  that 
a  petition  be  drawn  and  immediately  sent 
to  the  mayor  of  the  city  asking  protection 
for  their  property.  The  board  then  ad 
journed. 

Colonel  Harris,  his  manager,  and  Mr. 
Webster  entered  a  carriage,  and  drove 
rapidly  to  the  mayor's  office,  while  super 
intendent  George  Ingram  drove  back  to 
the  steel  works  to  execute  his  orders, 
though  he  did  not  believe  in  harsh  meas 
ures.  Harris  presented  the  petition  to  the 
mayor,  who  hastily  examined  it.  Bands  of 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  151 

music  were  now  audible  on  the  street,  and 
a  long  procession  of  workingmen,  bearing 
national  banners,  was  seen  marching  to 
wards  the  city  hall.  Citizens  on  the  streets 
held  their  breath,  and  policemen  feared 
the  outcome. 

Colonel  Harris  rose  to  go,  but  the  Mayor 
seized  his  arm  and  said,  "No!  you  and 
your  friends  must  stay  here  and  meet  a 
committee  of  your  employees  who  have  an 
appointment  with  me  at  three  o  'clock. 

"Already  I  have  said  to  the  same  com 
mittee,  who  called  at  ten  o'clock  this  morn 
ing,  that  T  should  expect  them  to  influence 
your  employees  to  keep  the  peace,  to  aid 
in  protecting  your  property,  to  disperse 
quietly  and  remain  in  their  homes.  Colonel 
Harris,  please  be  seated,  you  and  your 
friends  must  remain." 

"Well,  Mr.  Mayor,  since  you  insist,  we 
will  remain,  but  our  company  demands 
the  protection  of  all  our  property,  and  the 
preservation  of  peace  and  lives  in  our 
midst.  You  are  the  city's  executive  offi 
cer.  The  payment  annually  by  our  cor 
poration  of  thousands  in  taxes,  calls  for 
an  equivalent,  therefore  we  ask  that  you 
maintain  the  dignity  of  the  city  and  her 
laws." 

The  mayor  stepped  to  the  telephone  and 


152    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

called  Major  Strong,  the  chief  of  police. 
"Send  at  once  a  captain  and  twenty-five 
policemen  in  patrol  wagons  to  the  city  hall. 
Hold  fifty  more  men  in  readiness. ' ' 

A  great  throng  of  people  occupied  the 
sidewalks  and  the  windows  of  adjoining 
buildings.  Thousands  of  workmen  crowded 
the  pavement  from  curb  to  curb.  The  vast 
crowd  below,  though  impressive  was  not 
new  to  Colonel  Harris  nor  did  it  alarm 
him. 

Four  years  before,  his  employees  were 
out  on  a  strike  for  several  months.  Then 
the  issue  was,  "Will  the  company  recog 
nize  the  demands  of  the  Amalgamated  As 
sociation  of  Iron  and  Steel  Workers  of 
America!"  The  reply  of  the  company  was, 
"No!"  The  struggle  then  was  severe,  but 
the  strike  failed.  The  present  issue  was, 
"Will  the  company  pay  an  increase  of 


wages  I ' ' 


The  committee  of  five  of  the  employees 
soon  entered  the  mayor's  office.  They  were 
much  surprised  to  find  that  Colonel  Harris 
had  returned  to  the  city;  it  was  believed 
that  he  had  actually  set  sail  for  Europe. 
The  committee  unfortunately  was  a  rad 
ical  one,  and  did  not  represent  the  average 
thoughtful  and  conservative  type  of  work- 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  153 

ingmen.  Evidently  the  committee  had  been 
selected  for  the  purpose  of  intimidating 
capital,  as  their  manner  did  not  indicate 
a  conciliatory  policy. 

Mr.  Burns,  acting  as  spokesman,  said, 
4 'Mr.  Mayor,  it  is  3  o'clock,  and  we  are 
back  again  promptly,  as  you  requested, 
and  you  see  that  our  committee  is  in 
creased  by  several  thousand  workingmen 
on  the  street  below  who  have  come  to 
demand  bread  of  a  soulless  corporation. 
Mayor  Duty,  what  do  you  advise  us  to 
dor' 

The  Mayor  was  nervous  as  he  replied, 
"Mr.  Burns  and  members  of  the  commit 
tee,  I  confess  that  so  many  thousands  of 
honest  and  upturned  faces  of  workingmen 
move  my  heart.  If  I  were  able  it  would 
give  me  pleasure  first  to  ask  you  all  to 
partake  of  a  good  meal,  for  more  satis 
factory  business  is  usually  accomplished 
after  people  are  well  fed.  You  ask  my 
advice.  Here,  gentlemen  of  the  committee, 
is  Colonel  Harris,  your  employer,  let  him 
speak  to  you." 

Memories  of  a  wife  and  three  babies  at 
home,  dependent  for  bread  upon  his  own 
earnings  at  the  forge,  flashing  upon  the 
mind  of  Colonel  Harris,  sweetened  his 


154   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

spirit  and  softened  his  voice,  so  that  he 
spoke  briefly  and  kindly  to  the  committee, 
repeating,  however,  what  his  manager  had 
told  the  committee  at  ten  o'clock,  viz., 
'  *  that  the  present  bad  condition  of  the  steel 
market  would  not  permit  the  company 
to  grant  the  advance  of  wages  they  asked. '  ' 

The  committee,  aware  of  the  large  prof 
its  of  former  years,  sullenly  retired,  and 
after  the  company's  decision  had  been 
communicated  to  the  anxious  thousands 
below,  the  employees  of  the  Harrisville 
Iron  &  Steel  Co.  slowly  returned  to  their 
homes.  The  mayor  ordered  his  chief  of 
police  to  dispatch  immediately  in  patrol 
wagons  fifty  men  to  the  steel  works,  to 
guard  the  property  and  keep  the  peace. 

After  the  committee  retired,  the  mayor 
said,  "Well,  Colonel  Harris,  what  will  be 
the  outcome?" 

"Mr.  Mayor,  we  cannot  foretell  any 
thing.  You  never  know  what  workingmen  in 
their  lodges  will  do.  There,  as  a  rule,  the 
' Walking  delegate'  and  a  few  agitators 
rule  with  despotic  power.  If  a  workman, 
whose  large  family  forces  him  to  take  con 
servative  views,  dares  in  his  lodge  to  sug 
gest  peaceful  measures,  an  agitator  rises 
at  once  in  indignation  and  demands  that 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  155 

traitors  to  the  cause  of  labor  be  expelled. 
This  throttles  freedom  of  action  in  many 
labor  unions,  so  that  often  what  appears 
on  the  surface  to  be  the  unanimous  action 
of  the  members  of  workingmen's  leagues, 
is  but  the  exercise  of  despotic  power  by  a 
few  men  who  have  nothing  to  lose,  and 
whose  salary  is  paid  from  the  slim  purses 
of  honest  labor. 

"Usually  those  who  talk  much  and 
loudly  think  little  and  unwisely,  and  the 
opposite  to  their  advice  is  safest  to  follow. 
The  greatest  need  today  in  most  of  our 
labor  organizations  is  wise  leadership,  and 
this  will  result  when  the  best  element  in  the 
labor  lodges  asserts  itself. 

"The  despotism  of  ill-advised  labor  is 
to  be  dreaded  by  civilization  more  than 
the  reign  of  intelligent  capital.  This  is 
especially  true  in  the  United  States,  where 
under  wise  laws,  wealth  cannot  be  entailed, 
and  where  most  large  fortunes  soon  disap 
pear  among  the  heirs. 

"A  simple  pair  of  shears  illustrates  per 
fectly  the  relationship  that  capital  and 
labor  should  sustain  each  to  the  other. 
Capital  is  one  blade  of  the  shears,  and 
labor  is  the  other  blade;  either  blade  with 
out  the  other  is  useless,  and  the  two  blades 


156    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

are  useless  unless  the  rivet  is  in  place.  Con 
fidence  is  to  capital  and  labor  what  the 
rivet  is  to  the  two  blades.  The  desideratum 
today  in  the  business  world  is  full  and 
abiding  confidence  between  capital  and 
labor."  Thus  speaking  Colonel  Harris  and 
his  friends  left  the  mayor  and  returned 
to  their  homes. 
****** 

After  a  visit  to  Niagara  Falls,  Mr. 
Searles  and  his  party  went  on  to  Harris- 
ville,  where  Mrs.  Eastlake  rejoined  some 
friends  and  continued  her  long  journey 
to  the  Pacific  Coast.  Colonel  Harris  met 
his  daughter  and  Mr.  Hugh  Searles  at  the 
station,  the  latter,  under  the  circumstances, 
being  the  last  person  he  cared  to  see. 
The  carriage  was  driven  at  once  to  Reuben 
Harris's  beautiful  home  that  overlooked 
Harrisville  and  blue  Lake  Erie. 

After  dinner  Colonel  Harris  explained 
to  Mr.  Searles  all  about  the  inopportune 
strike;  also  that  it  was  impossible  to  say 
when  the  steel  plant  would  be  started 
again.  Mr.  Searles  decided  next  morning 
that  after  a  short  ride  through  Harris 
ville  he  would  continue  his  journey  through 
the  States  to  California,  and  possibly  to 


Capital  and  Labor  in  Conference  157 

Australia,  where  he  had  another  important 
interest  to  attend  to  in  behalf  of  a  London 
client. 

It  was  further  arranged  that  he  would 
return  to  London  via  Harrisville  in  about 
six  months,  if  so  desired  by  Colonel  Harris, 
otherwise  he  would  complete  the  journey 
around  the  world,  returning  to  England 
by  way  of  the  Suez  Canal. 


CHAPTER  X 

KNOWLEDGE   IS   POWER 

THE  Ingrams  lived  not  far  from  the  steel 
mills  in  one  of  two  wooden  houses,  each 
two  stories  in  height,  which  Reuben  Harris 
and  James  Ingram  had  built  for  their 
families,  when  they  began  in  a  modest  way 
to  manufacture  steel.  As  Reuben  Harris 
grew  rich  he  moved  his  family  into  a 
beautiful  home  in  the  fashionable  part  of 
the  city,  and  good  society  accepted  them  as 
their  equals. 

The  large  family  and  small  income  of 
James  Ingram  forced  him  to  continue  his 
residence  in  the  same  brown  house  near 
the  steel  mills.  The  Ingram  family  kept 
much  to  their  English  ways  and  knew  little 
or  nothing  of  society.  The  English  and 
Germans  cling  tenaciously  to  their  old 
habits  and  customs  which  they  carry  across 
seas  and  over  mountains.  Generations  must 
elapse  before  it  will  be  safe  to  predict  what 
the  national  type  of  an  American  citizen 
will  be.  One  discovers  on  the  British  Isles 


Knowledge  is  Power  159 

the  mixture  of  centuries  of  European 
blood  which  has  developed  a  virility  of 
body  and  brain  that  dominates  the  globe. 
' i  More  honor  to  be  a  British  subject  today 
than  to  have  been  a  Roman  in  Rome's 
palmiest  days,"  thought  James  Ingram, 
who  was  proud  of  his  race  and  his  family 
blood. 

James  Ingram  came  from  a  well-bred 
English  household.  His  environment  now 
hedged  him  in.  In  England  ill-health,  and 
now,  in  America,  ill-treatment  made  him 
miss  golden  opportunities.  Except  good 
qualities  are  inbred,  it  is  almost  as  impos 
sible  for  a  person  in  one  stratum  of  society 
to  be  lifted  up  into  another  as  it  is 
for  the  geological  strata  of  the  earth  to 
change  positions. 

The  grandmother  of  James  Ingram  had 
good  blood  in  her  veins;  she  came  from 
a  family  that  had  performed  valiant  deeds 
in  war  and  in  peace.  James  Ingram 's 
father  had  erred  in  judgment,  and  a 
large  estate,  partially  inherited,  had  been 
swept  away  as  by  a  flood.  He  died,  leaving 
James  the  eldest  son  to  aid  in  supporting 
his  mother  and  several  children. 

James  Ingrain  was  now  over  fifty  years 
of  age.  Could  he,  or  his  children,  retrieve 


160    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

their  family  prestige  was  a  question  he 
often  asked  himself.  He  still  had  energy, 
unconquerable  determination,  and  faith  in 
himself.  These  are  some  of  the  essential 
elements  in  a  successful  character;  but  the 
fates  thus  far  had  decreed  adversely.  His 
early  education  was  not  of  the  best,  but  by 
carefully  devoting  not  less  than  two  hours 
a  day  to  good  reading,  he  had  not  only 
kept  pace  with  current  history,  but  had 
also  acquired  a  helpful  knowledge  of  the 
sciences. 

When  his  oldest  son  George  was  born, 
he  planned  to  give  his  children  the  best 
education  possible.  Two  of  his  three 
daughters  were  teaching  in  the  public 
schools ;  May  Ingram  taught  music.  Two  of 
his  sons  worked  in  the  mills,  one  as  chemist 
and  one  as  an  electrician;  a  third  son  was 
conductor  on  a  passenger  train,  and  a 
fourth  was  studying  to  be  a  physician. 

The  father  and  his  son,  George,  after 
the  day's  work  at  the  mills  was  over,  spent 
much  time  over  a  problem  which,  if  solved, 
would  revolutionize  many  things.  Twice 
they  thought  they  were  on  the  eve  of  a  solu 
tion  of  the  subject,  but  unforeseen  obsta 
cles  were  encountered,  and  still  they 
struggled  on. 


Knowledge  is  Power  161 

It  is  no  wonder  that  the  father  was 
proud  of  George,  now  chemist  of  the  vast 
steel  works,  for  he  was  manly  and  re 
spected  by  all  the  employees.  When  a  boy, 
George  worked  nights,  Saturdays,  and  dur 
ing  his  vacations  in  the  mills,  and  the  men 
came  to  know  and  love  his  genial  ways  and 
fair  methods,  and  thus  he  gained  a  good 
knowledge  of  steel -making. 

His  father  was  urgent  that  his  son 
should  not  miss  a  single  day  in  his  school 
ing.  At  length  he  graduated  at  the  high 
school  with  the  esteem  of  his  teachers  and 
his  class.  During  the  twelve  years  spent 
in  public  schools  he  had  acquired  a  fine 
discipline  of  mind,  a  love  of  the  sciences, 
and  enough  of  Latin  and  Greek  to  aid  him 
in  determining  the  derivation  and  exact 
meaning  of  words.  Co-education  too  had 
refined  his  nature,  and  enabled  him  to  esti 
mate  correctly  his  own  abilities,  but  best 
of  all  he  had  come  to  know  at  the  high 
school  the  second  daughter  of  Eeuben 
Harris,  Gertrude,  who  graduated  in  his 
own  class.  During  the  senior  year  he  had 
frequently  walked  and  talked  with  her, 
and  came  to  know  somewhat  of  her  plans. 

Gertrude's  parents,  especially  Mrs.  Har 
ris,  were  anxious  that  both  their  daughters 


162    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

should  go  to  private  schools,  and  Lucille 
was  easily  persuaded  to  attend  a  young 
ladies'  seminary,  where  aesthetic  accom 
plishments  were  emphasized  and  consid 
ered  essentials  and  a  passport  into  good 
society.  But  Gertrude  decided  in  favor  of 
a  public  school  education. 

Lucille  and  Gertrude  as  sisters  were 
fond  of  each  other,  but  Lucille  lived  more 
for  self,  while  Gertrude  preferred  others 
to  self.  Gertrude  had  learned  early  how 
by  a  smile  or  bow  to  retain  an  old  friend 
or  to  win  a  new  one.  She  spent  very  little 
time  thinking  about  her  own  needs,  pre 
ferring  to  take  flowers  or  fruit,  even  when 
given  her,  to  some  sick  or  aged  person. 
Nothing  pleased  her  more  than  to  visit 
the  Old  Ladies'  Home  with  a  few  gifts  and 
read  the  Bible  or  comforting  stories  to 
the  inmates. 

Mrs.  Harris  when  east  chanced  to  spend 
a  June  day  at  Wellesley  College  near  Bos 
ton.  By  early  moonlight  several  hundred 
Wellesley  girls  and  thousands  of  specta 
tors  had  assembled  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Waban  to  enjoy  the  "Float."  Gaily  uni 
formed  crews  in  their  college  flotilla  formed 
a  star-shaped  group  near  the  shore  for 
their  annual  concert.  Chinese  lanterns,  like 


Knowledge  is  Power  163 

giant  fire-flies,  swung  in  the  trees  and  on 
many  graceful  boats.  The  silver  notes  of 
the  bugle  and  the  chant  of  youthful  voices 
changed  the  college-world  into  a  fairyland. 

Both  mother  and  daughter  were  charmed 
and  Lucille  gladly  decided  to  enter  Welles- 
ley.  Hard  study,  however,  and  the  daily 
forty-five  minutes  of  domestic  work  then 
required,  did  not  agree  with  her  nature, 
and  after  a  few  weeks  she  decided  upon  a 
change,  and  continued  her  education  at 
one  of  the  private  schools  on  the  Back- 
Bay  in  Boston. 

Gertrude,  possessing  a  more  active  mind 
and  ambition,  resolved  to  obtain  an  educa 
tion  as  good  as  her  brother  Alfonso  had 
had  at  Harvard.  She  had  read  of  a  promi 
nent  benefactor  who  believed  that  woman 
had  the  same  right  as  man  to  intellectual 
culture  and  development,  and  who  in  1861 
had  founded  on  the  Hudson,  midway 
between  Albany  and  New  York,  an  institu 
tion  which  he  hoped  would  accomplish  for 
women  what  colleges  were  doing  for  men. 

So  Gertrude  applied  for  enrollment  and 
was  admitted  to  Vassar  College.  Rooms 
were  assigned  her  in  Strong  Hall.  She  liked 
Vassar 's  sensible  way  of  hazing,  a  cordial 
reception  being  given  to  freshmen  by  the 


164    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

sophomores.  She  was  glad  to  be  under  both 
men  and  women  professors,  for  this  in 
part  fulfilled  her  idea  of  the  education  that 
women  should  receive. 

At  Vassar  were  several  girls  from  Har- 
risville  whom  Gertrude  knew,  but  no  boys. 
She  wrote  her  mother  that  she  would  be 
better  pleased  if  Vassar  had  less  Greek 
and  more  boys.  She  could  not  understand 
why  co-education  at  the  high  school  in 
Harrisville,  that  worked  perfectly,  should 
stop  at  the  threshold  of  Vassar,  or  other 
women's  and  men's  colleges. 

The  two  following  years  on  the  beautiful 
Hudson  were  happy  years  for  Gertrude. 
She  conquered  mathematics,  stood  well  in 
Latin,  and  was  enthusiastic  in  the  study  of 
psychology,  the  science  of  mind,  which 
teaches  the  intimate  relation  of  mental 
phenomena  to  the  physical  organism.  Ger 
man  was  an  elective  study  with  Gertrude, 
which  she  had  studied  at  the  high  school, 
but  at  Vassar  she  learned  to  write  and 
talk  the  language  with  accuracy  and  free 
dom,  which  is  not  usual,  unless  one  lives 
in  a  German  family. 

Gertrude  was  already  planning  to  study 
history  and  some  of  the  sciences  in  origi 
nal  German  text-books,  if  occasion  offered. 


Knowledge  is  Power  165 

She  cared  little  for  music,  though  she  was 
extremely  fond  of  poetry  and  now  and 
then  contributed  verses  for  publication. 
Her  essay  on  architecture  at  the  close  of 
the  second  year  elicited  applause  from  the 
students  and  praise  in  red  ink  across  the 
first  page  of  the  composition. 

Self-government  of  the  Vassar  girls 
develops  self-respect  and  self-control.  A 
Vassar  girl  is  bound  on  her  honor  to  retire 
every  night  at  ten  o'clock,  with  three  ex 
ceptions  a  month,  to  exercise  in  the  gymna 
sium  three  hours  a  week,  and  to  take  at 
least  one  hour  of  out-door  exercise  daily. 
Regular  exercise,  regular  meals,  nine 
hours  of  sleep,  and  plenty  of  mental  work 
were  rapidly  preparing  Gertrude  to  fill 
some  noble  position  in  the  world. 

At  Vassar  other  sources  of  mental  rest 
and  physical  strength  are,  tennis-court 
tournaments,  basket  ball,  rowing  and  skat 
ing  on  the  lake,  bicycling,  or  five-mile 
tramps,  studying  birds,  photographing 
scenery,  or  gathering  wild  flowers.  The 
Vassar  girl  is  also  enthusiastic  over  the 
"Tree  and  Trig  Ceremonies "  and  amateur 
dramatic  entertainments. 

Gertrude  closed  her  second  and  last  year 
at  Vassar  with  regret.  The  farewell 


166    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

"fudge"  party  was  for  Gertrude,  and 
given  in  her  own  room  by  a  score  of  her 
warm  personal  friends.  The  rule  for 
"fudge-making"  is,  two  cups  of  sugar, 
milk,  two  rolls  of  butter  melted  with  choco 
late  in  a  copper  kettle  over  a  gas  stove. 
The  fused  compound  is  poured  into  paper 
plates  and  cut  into  tiny  squares.  So  eager 
is  the  Vassar  girl  for  "fudge"  that  the 
struggle  is  earnest  for  the  first  taste,  and 
for  the  cleaning  of  the  big  spoon  and  kettle. 
The  Vassar  girl  has  a  sweet  tooth,  and 
"fudge"  parties  always  evolve  love 
stories  and  fun  in  abundance. 

After  a  pleasant  vacation  in  the  Adiron- 
dacks  with  friends,  Gertrude  resolved  to 
complete  her  education  at  Smith  College  on 
the  lovely  Connecticut  River,  which  winds 
through  western  Massachusetts.  To  edu 
cate  a  whole  family  of  boys  and  girls  at 
the  "dear  old  alma  mater"  is  now  an 
exploded  fancy.  A  better  plan  is  to  educate 
the  half  dozen  brothers  and  sisters  at  a 
half  dozen  good  colleges.  What  faculty  of 
educators  can  lay  claim  to  all  the  best 
methods  of  evolving  characters  ? 

The  industry  and  economy  of  James 
Ingram  had  enabled  him  to  send  his  son 
George  for  two  years  to  the  Polytechnic 


Knowledge  is  Powet  167 

Institute  at  Troy.  Suddenly  financial 
troubles  made  it  impossible  for  him  longer 
to  assist  his  son.  Mrs.  Harris,  very  likely 
by  Gertrude's  suggestion,  offered  to  pro 
vide  funds  for  the  third  and  last  year  at 
the  institute,  and  George  was  delighted  to 
complete  his  course. 

By  invitation,  George  had  spent  the 
last  days  of  his  vacation  with  Gertrude 
in  the  Adirondacks,  and  he  had  accom 
panied  Mrs.  Harris  and  her  daughters  back 
to  Albany,  while  the  mother  continued  the 
journey  leaving  Gertrude  at  Smith  Col 
lege,  Northampton,  and  Lucille  at  Boston. 
Mrs.  Harris  was  justly  proud  of  her  girls. 
Their  figure  and  dress  often  caused  people 
to  stop  in  their  conversation  or  reading, 
as  mother  and  daughters  entered  a  car  or  a 
hotel. 

George  Ingram  returned  to  the  institute 
with  high  hopes.  A  few  of  his  plans  were 
revealed  to  Gertrude  on  the  last  night  of 
his  vacation.  He  told  her  some  things  he 
never  dared  mention  before  to  any  one. 
They  were  on  Saranac  Lake  and  the  moon 
seemed  to  change  the  water  to  silver.  Their 
birch  canoe  drifted  along  the  shore  and 
George,  dropping  his  oars,  reversed  his  seat 
and  faced  the  girl  he  loved  as  he  told  her 


168    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

much  of  his  plan  for  life,  Gertrude  dipped 
her  oars  lightly  in  the  water,  George  guid 
ing  the  canoe  beneath  the  forest  overhang 
ing  the  pebbly  shore. 

Thus  far  his  education  had  been  a  strug 
gle.  Time  which  his  mates  employed  in 
recreation  he  had  used  in  the  steel  mill. 
Thus  he  gained  a  trade  and  a  knowl 
edge  of  the  value  of  time.  Early  he  had 
learned  that  knowledge  is  power  and  that 
intellect  and  wealth  rule  the  world.  He 
told  Gertrude  that  she  had  kindled  with 
in  him  the  spark  of  ambition,  and  that  he 
proposed  to  make  life  a  success.  "Ger 
trude,  you  must  be  my  friend  in  this 
struggle, "  he  added. 

"Yes,  George,  always  your  friend,"  she 
replied. 

He  felt  that  Gertrude  meant  all  she 
said.  Long  ago  her  sincerity  had  captured 
his  heart.  Her  sympathy,  her  unselfishness, 
and  her  words  of  helpfulness  had  been  the 
light  by  which  he  was  shaping  his  course. 

Another  school  year  went  by  swiftly, 
and  both  Lucille  and  Gertrude  were  pres 
ent  in  June  at  Troy  to  see  George  Ingram 
graduate.  It  was  a  pity  that  his  own  father 
and  mother,  who  had  sacrificed  so  much 
for  him,  could  not  attend.  How  often  his 


Knowledge  is  Power  169 

noble  mother  had  prayed  for  her  first-born 
son,  and  Gertrude  had  prayed  too,  but 
George  did  not  know  this. 

At  times  he  was  conscious  of  a  strong 
force  within,  impelling  him  forward,  whose 
source  he  could  not  divine,  neither  could 
he  free  himself  from  it.  Fortunate  person 
whose  sails  are  filled  with  breezes  from 
heaven,  for  craft  of  this  kind  go  forward 
guided  rightly,  almost  without  the  rudder's 
aid! 

George  pursued  at  the  institute  a  three 
years'  course,  leading  up  to  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science.  After  the  first  two 
years  he  took  less  higher  mathematics  and 
more  natural  history,  chemistry,  and 
geology.  The  institute  is  within  easy  access 
of  engineering  works  and  manufacturing 
plants  of  great  diversity,  which  afforded 
young  Ingram  opportunities  for  valuable 
investigation  and  observation.  His  gradu 
ating  thesis  was  entitled,  "A  Design  for 
an  Electrical  Steel  Plant  with  Working 
Details,  Capacity  One  Thousand  Tons  per 
Diem."  It  was  much  complimented,  espe 
cially  the  detail  drawings  for  the  plant. 

His  books  and  clothes  had  been  packed 
and  shipped  to  Harrisville.  Reluctant  good 
byes  were  given  to  all  the  professors, 


170    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

class-mates,  and  many  townspeople,  who 
were  fond  of  him.  Life  in  Troy  had  been 
a  constant  inspiration,  for  he  was  in  touch 
with  young  men  from  cultivated  families 
which  in  itself  is  an  education.  George  had 
the  usual  experience  of  the  student  world, 
for  to  him  all  the  professors  were  very 
learned  men. 

After  George  had  locked  the  door  of 
his  old  study-room  to  go  to  the  train,  he 
stopped  in  the  hallway  in  serious  thought, 
then  turning  back  he  unlocked  the  door 
and  again  entered  the  dear  old  rooms.  He 
reseated  himself  at  the  desk,  where  he  had 
so  often  studied  far  into  the  night.  He  took 
another  look  into  the  bedroom,  into  the 
little  store-room,  and  pleasant  memories 
crowded  his  mind,  as  for  the  last  time  he 
gazed  from  the  window  towards  the  Berk 
shire  Hills,  beyond  which  Gertrude  was 
being  educated,  and  then  as  he  finally 
re-locked  the  door,  he  recalled  his  after 
noon  engagement  to  meet  Gertrude  and 
Lucille  at  4:30  o'clock  at  the  Albany 
station  to  take  the  Boston  &  Chicago 
Special  for  Harrisville. 

George  had  entered  the  institute  with 
a  light  heart  and  much  zest,  because  three 
years  of  progressive  work  were  marked 


Knowledge  is  Power  171 

out  for  him.  His  mental  journey  had  now 
ended  and  his  heart  was  heavy.  No  road 
opened  before  him  except  the  one  that  led 
back  to  the  dingy  old  Harrisville  mills.  In 
the  last  three  years  his  sky  had  lifted  a 
little,  but  the  intelligence  gained  only 
made  him  all  the  more  conscious  of  the 
small  world  in  which  he  and  his  family 
lived.  How  was  he  ever  to  earn  a  living 
for  two,  if  Gertrude  should  possibly  say 
"yes?" 

Just  as  he  put  his  foot  on  the  platform 
of  the  railway  station  a  letter  was  placed 
in  his  hand  by  a  fellow  classmate.  The 
envelope  bore  the  printed  address  of  the 
Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.  George,  think 
ing  the  letter  was  from  his  father,  instantly 
tore  it  open  and  began  reading.  At  first 
his  face  flushed  and  then  it  was  lit  with 

joy. 

"Good  tidings,  I  hope,"  said  Gertrude, 
as  she  with  her  sister  approached. 

"Yes,  Gertrude,  read  for  yourself.  A 
friend  at  court  is  a  friend  indeed. ' ' 

The  two  sisters  were  delighted  and 
heartily  congratulated  George.  "Of  course, 
you  will  accept  the  position?"  inquired 
Gertrude. 

"Your  father,  Gertrude,  is  very  kind  to 


172    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

me,  and  I  believe  I  could  fill  satisfactorily 
the  position  of  chemist  now  offered  by  the 
steel  company.  Later,  Gertrude,  we  can 
talk  this  matter  over. ' '  Three  happy  young 
people  bought  tickets  for  home  and  took 
seats  in  a  Pullman  car. 

After  a  week's  rest,  George  Ingram 
assumed  the  duties  of  assistant  chemist 
for  the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.  Two 
weeks '  initiation  by  the  old  chemist,  whose 
health  was  failing,  sufficed  to  give  young 
Ingram  efficiency  and  confidence  in  his 
desirable  position. 


CHAPTER  XI 

IN   TOUCH  WITH   NATURE 

THE  school  vacation  of  the  Harris  young 
ladies  came  and  went  on  wings.  The 
mother  was  too  ill  to  leave  her  home;  she 
stood  in  her  door-way,  and  gave  her  fare 
well,  "God  keep  and  bless  you,  children!" 
The  father  had  gone  to  Chicago,  so  George 
Ingram  saw  the  daughters  off  touching 
Gertrude's  hand,  with  a  hearty  good-bye 
as  she  stood  in  the  car  door. 

As  George  returned  slowly  to  his  task 
at  the  steel  mills,  he  resolved  to  use  his 
evenings  in  post-graduate  work.  The  more 
he  studied  iron  ores  and  steel-making,  the 
more  he  felt  that  he  must  conquer  the  whole 
intricate  subject,  if  he  would  be  of  greatest 
service  to  his  employers.  The  intense  com 
petition  in  the  trade  demanded  it. 

The  Empire  State  Express,  the  fastest 
train  in  the  world,  carried  Gertrude  and 
Lucille  through  New  York  state  with 
speed  and  ease  to  delightful  New  England. 
Secretly  Gertrude  loved  George,  and  she 


174    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

resolved  to  study  chemistry  and  electricity 
and  keep  pace  with  his  studies,  and  if  ever 
asked  to  become  his  wife,  to  aid  him  in 
every  possible  way.  She  thought  that  she 
discovered  in  him  the  material  for  a  noble 
man,  a  statue  which  she  hoped  to  chisel. 
Too  often  marriageable  young  women  and 
their  anxious  mothers  demand  the  complete 
statue  at  the  outset,  and  are  not  content 
to  accept  and  chisel  granite. 

At  Smith  College  the  months  sped  rap 
idly,  as  earnest  study  and  bright  expecta 
tions  occupied  Gertrude's  time  and  satis 
fied  her  heart.  Every  week  brought  a  letter 
and  a  reply  was  promptly  sent.  George 
wanted  to  write  twice  a  week,  but  Gertrude 
checked  him,  saying  that  both  needed  their 
time,  and  that  too  frequent  correspondence, 
like  too  much  intimacy,  often  brings  dis 
favor. 

"More  details  of  the  doings  at  the  steel 
mills,"  wrote  Gertrude.  She  cared  more 
about  the  welfare  of  her  father's  employ 
ees  and  their  families  and  George  Ingram 's 
plans  than  to  know  the  latest  fad  in 
society.  George  was  equally  anxious  to 
keep  her  informed,  and  to  learn  of  her 
intellectual  advancement,  what  books  she 
read,  and  her  views  on  the  leading  topics 
of  the  day. 


In  Touch  with  Nature  175 

Her  first  letter  began,  "My  Coatless 
Friend,"  a  reference  to  the  loss  of  a  linen 
coat  or  duster,  when  the  last  ride  at  Har- 
risville  was  taken.  The  second  letter  began 
"Friend  George,"  and  the  third,  "My 
dear  Friend. ' '  Gertrude  and  George  never 
addressed  each  other  twice  alike  in  their 
whole  correspondence.  The  weekly  letters 
were  always  torn  open  by  each  in  haste, 
and  both  noticed  a  gradual  increase  of 
warmth  in  these  addresses.  The  fact  that 
Gertrude  was  an  heiress  neither  hindered 
nor  helped  his  devotion.  His  heart  was 
attracted  by  her  many  charms. 

At  Smith  College  Gertrude  occupied 
rooms  in  the  Morris  Cottage  among  the 
apple  tree  blossoms.  Much  of  her  spare 
time  was  spent  in  the  scientific  library 
and  laboratory  of  Lilly  Hall,  or  with 
the  professor  and  his  telescope  in  the 
observatory. 

On  clear  nights,  aided  by  the  telescope. 
Gertrude  gazed  into  the  immensity  of 
space,  whispering  sometimes  to  her  own 
soul,  "How  grand  this  vast  world-making, 
this  frightful  velocity  of  the  giant  dynamos 
in  their  elliptical  pathways  through 
space ! ' ' 

Often  unable  to  sleep,  she  continued  her 
thoughts  and  wondered  if  space  were  not 


176    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

interlaced  with  electrical  currents  that 
move  the  earth,  the  sister  planets,  and  the 
myriads  of  suns  and  their  planets.  She 
thought  she  saw,  as  never  before,  the 
necessity  for  an  eternal  existence  of  the 
mind,  if  God  is  to  be  studied  and  known  in 
his  infinite  variety. 

Four  years  in  college  had  developed 
Gertrude  into  a  beautiful  character.  Begu- 
lar  work  in  the  gymnasium,  much  out 
door  exercise,  and  care  as  to  ventilation 
in  her  rooms,  especially  at  night,  had  kept 
her  in  perfect  physical  health.  Her  inti 
mates  shared  her  glow  of  vitality,  for  her 
presence  at  "Lawn,  or  Character  Teas," 
at  tennis-courts,  or  at  basket-ball  always 
brought  sunshine  and  enthusiasm. 

The  Saturday  before  commencement, 
her  mother  and  Lucille  came  to  enjoy  the 
charming  festivities  of  Smith  College.  A 
representation  of  Bacine  VAthalie,"with 
Mendelssohn's  music,  was  the  evening 
attraction  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  which 
the  class  had  rented  for  the  occasion. 

Groups  of  ushers,  with  white  satin 
wands,  conducted  students  in  tasteful 
dresses,  and  invited  guests  to  their  seats. 
When  the  curtain  rose  it  was  difficult  to 
decide  which  one  most  admired,  the  stage 


In  Touch  with  Nature  177 

with  its  artistic  setting,  its  young  faces, 
sweet  voices,  and  graceful  movements,  or 
the  sympathetic  audience  of  students  and 
their  friends.  The  stage  and  press  of  the 
future  guided  in  part  by  college-bred  men 
and  women  will  preach,  it  is  hoped,  purity, 
truth,  and  the  beautiful. 

Mrs.  Harris  and  Lucille  were  very 
happy  that  Gertrude  was  to  graduate,  and 
Lucille  who  had  just  finished  her  education 
in  Boston,  half  regretted  that  she  too  had 
not  entered  a  woman's  college.  Gertrude 
never  looked  more  beautiful  than  she  did 
in  the  white-robed  procession,  as,  on  Bac 
calaureate  Sunday,  the  several  classes 
passed  down  the  aisles  of  the  church. 

George  Ingram  had  hurried  to  North 
ampton  to  see  Gertrude  graduate.  She  met 
him  at  the  station,  and  took  his  hand 
warmly  in  both  of  hers.  George  had 
brought  from  New  York  a  box  of  white 
roses  for  her  room,  and  a  big  bunch  of 
the  star-flower,  the  pretty  English  blue 
forget-me-not.  He  also  had  in  his  valise 
a  tiny  case  of  which  he  made  no  mention 
to  anybody. 

Hundreds  of  young  women  in  white 
walked  across  the  campus  and  were  massed 
on  the  college  steps  for  their  Ivy  Exercise. 


178    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Never  before  was  George  so  proud  of 
Gertrude.  She  and  Nellie  Nelson,  after 
wards  Mrs.  Eastlake,  had  been  chosen  by 
the  class  for  their  beauty  and  sweet  ways 
to  head  the  procession  of  the  white-gowned 
graduates.  The  evening  of  Class-day  is  a 
fitting  close  of  the  gay  festivities  at  Smith 
College. 

At  the  evening  reception,  George  was 
introduced  to  many  of  Gertrude's  class 
mates,  and  some  of  her  intimate  friends 
whispered,  "Mr.  Ingram  and  Gertrude 
must  be  engaged!  What  a  handsome  pair 
they  will  make. ' '  George  offered  his  arm  to 
Gertrude,  and  they  walked  about  the 
campus  under  the  classical  trees  that 
glowed  with  hundreds  of  colored  paper 
lanterns;  everywhere  a  throng  of  pretty 
happy  girls  with  their  relatives  and  friends. 
Music  by  the  glee  clubs  on  the  college 
steps,  and  refreshments,  closed  pleasantly 
Gertrude's  last  night  of  college  life  on  the 
beautiful  Connecticut. 

She  went  to  bed  tired,  but  very  happy. 
That  evening  her  mother  and  sister  had 
left  for  New  York,  and  in  the  morning  she 
and  George  were  to  spend  the  day  at  Mt. 
Holyoke.  Twice  in  the  night,  Gertrude 
awoke,  looked  at  her  watch,  and  longed  for 


In  Touch  with  Nature  179 

daylight,  and  then  went  back  to  dream  of 
flowers  and  music. 

While  she  slept,  warm  southern  breezes 
spread  a  coverlet  of  silver  gray  mist  over 
the  homes  of  energy  and  thrift  up  and 
down  the  Connecticut  Valley.  In  the  morn 
ing  when  Gertrude  opened  the  blinds,  and 
saw  the  fog  against  the  window  panes  and 
over  the  valley,  she  exclaimed,  "It  is  too 
bad,  I  so  wanted  George  to  drive  to  Mt. 
Holyoke  today,  and  see  nature  at  her 
best!  I  hoped  this  would  be  the  happiest 
day  of  my  life." 

It  was  a  quarter  to  8  o'clock  when  a  pair 
of  spirited  black  roadsters,  hitched  to  a 
buckboard,  were  driven  in  front  of  the 
hotel  for  George  Ingram.  As  he  appeared 
on  the  porch  he  looked  every  inch  a  gentle 
man.  He  was  twenty-five  years  old,  had 
received  a  practical  education,  and  was 
filling  acceptably  the  important  position  of 
assistant  chemist  of  the  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co.,  to  which,  six  months 
before,  he  had  been  promoted.  He  had  fine 
physique,  dark  hair  and  eyes,  and  a 
military  bearing  that  made  him  the  nat 
ural  commander  of  men.  His  firmness, 
tempered  with  great  kindness  of  heart, 


180    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

always  won  for  him  the  respect  of  both 
men  and  women. 

He  handled  the  team  with  skill  for  he 
was  a  member  of  the  driving  club  at  home. 
At  a  college  window  sat  Gertrude  who 
was  eagerly  watching  for  him,  and  now  she 
ran  down  the  gravel  walk  with  a  sunny 
face,  greeting  her  manly  lover  with  such 
sweet  voice  and  grace,  that  a  college  girl 
in  passing  whispered  to  her  companion. 
"Look,  Bessie,  there  are  true  and  hand 
some  lovers  such  as  we  read  about  in 
novels,  but  seldom  meet." 

Gertrude  insisted,  since  the  fog  was 
lifting,  that  George  should  hitch  his  horses 
and  for  five  minutes  go  with  her  up  on 
the  college  tower.  As  they  looked  out,  Ger 
trude  said,  "Here,  George,  on  the  west 
are  our  half  dozen  cozy  college  houses;  on 
the  smooth  green  lawn  below  you  see  our 
tennis-courts,  and  an  abundance  of  shade. 

"Now,  George,  turn  to  the  east  and  see 
how  kindly  the  sun  has  removed  the  mist 
and  made  for  us  a  glorious  day.  How 
bright  the  colors  in  our  flag  that  floats  over 
the  high  school  yonder!  There  stands  the 
Soldiers'  Memorial  Hall,  the  Edwards 
Church  with  graceful  spire,  and  across  the 
green  meadows,  with  its  winding  stream 


In  Touch  with  Nature  181 

of  silver,  rise  the  ranges  of  Mt.  Tom  and 
Mt.  Holyoke,  outlined  in  curves  against  the 
blue  sky." 

"Beautiful!"  responded  George,  "and 
yet,  Gertrude,  nothing  in  nature  is  half  so 
lovely  as  your  own  dear  self."  Without 
warning  he  kissed  her  rosy  cheek,  her 
whole  face  changing  to  crimson  as  she 
said,  "George,  we  must  be  going." 

Two  happy  young  souls  drove  away 
from  Smith  College  out  under  the  Gothic 
elms,  where  the  birds  were  mating  and 
building  their  nests.  The  plan  for  the  day 
was  to  drive  to  the  mountain,  and  follow 
the  mother  and  sister  on  the  evening  ex 
press  to  New  York.  The  hotel  clerk  had 
pointed  out  the  best  road  to  Mt.  Holyoke, 
and  following  his  directions  they  drove 
southeast,  leaving  behind  them  shady 
Northampton,  Smith  College,  and  delight 
ful  memories  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
George  Bancroft,  and  others. 

A  single  white  parasol  was  quite  enough 
to  protect  two  lovers  from  the  sun's  rays. 
Circular  shadows,  photographs  of  the  sun, 
frolicked  with  each  other  in  the  roadway 
as  gentle  breezes  swayed  the  overhanging 
boughs. 

Milk  wagons  with  noisy  cans  were  re- 


182    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

turning  home,  herds  of  black  and  white 
Holstein-Friesian  cattle,  famous  for  their 
yield  of  milk,  were  cropping  sweet  grasses 
in  the  pastures.  Farmers  were  guiding 
their  cultivators  and  mowing  machines, 
while  wives  and  daughters  were  shell  ing- 
June  peas,  hulling  strawberries,  and  pre 
paring  for  dinner.  The  large  white  houses, 
with  roomy  barns  in  the  shade  of  big  elms, 
were  the  happy  homes  of  freemen.  Ger 
trude  wanted  the  horses  to  walk  more,  but 
George  was  unwilling  to  take  the  dust  of 
wagons  returning  from  the  market,  so  he 
kept  the  horses  moving  at  a  brisk  pace. 

At  length  the  Hockanum  Ferry  with  its 
odd  device  was  reached.  George  got  out  and 
led  the  horses  into  the  middle  of  the 
small  river  craft.  Then  the  boat  was  pushed 
off  and  a  strong  man  and  boy  pulled  at 
the  wire  rope.  The  ferryman's  shanty,  the 
willows,  and  tangled  driftwood  on  the 
shore,  fast  receded,  and  soon  the  middle 
of  the  Connecticut  River  was  reached, 
where  the  current  is  swiftest.  In  sight 
were  several  canoes  with  light  sails,  scud 
ding  before  the  wind.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
tiny  rope  of  the  ferry  would  break,  but 
the  rope  is  of  steel  wire  and  the  boat 
moved  slowly  till  the  opposite  bank  was 


In  Touch  with  Nature  183 

reached.  Gertrude  held  the  lines,  the  sun 
shining  full  in  her  face,  and  talked  to  the 
boatman,  to  George,  and  the  horses,  but 
George  said  little  as  he  was  busy  quieting 
the  excited  animals  and  studying  the 
primitive  rope-ferry. 

To  the  regular  ferrage,  Gertrude  added 
a  dime  for  Tim,  the  helper,  who  watered 
the  horses.  As  George  was  about  to  start 
his  team,  a  twelve-year  old  farm  boy  ran 
aboard  the  boat  with  a  string  of  fine 
speckled  trout  strung  on  a  willow  twig. 
All  the  spring  the  boy's  anticipations  for 
"a  day  off"  had  now  been  fully  realized. 
Since  daylight  the  little  fellow  had 
tramped  up  and  down  the  brook,  his  feet 
were  bruised  and  sore,  and  his  face  and 
hands  were  bitten  by  mosquitos.  But  what 
of  that?  He  had  caught  a  string  of  fine  fish 
and  was  happy.  Gertrude,  for  a  silver 
dollar,  bought  the  trout,  and  the  boy 
danced  with  joy. 

It  was  half  past  eleven  before  the  Half 
way  Station  up  the  mountain  was  reached, 
and  the  steep  ascent  to  Prospect  House  on 
the  top  of  Mt.  Holyoke  was  made  by  the 
car  on  the  inclined  railway.  The  morning 
ride  and  the  thought  of  a  dinner  of  brook 
trout  on  the  mountain  had  sharpened  the 


184    The  Harris-Ingrain  Experiment 

appetites  of  the  lovers.  George  and  Ger 
trude  needed  but  a  single  announcement  of 
dinner  from  the  clerk  to  make  them  hasten 
for  seats  at  so  inviting  a  meal.  They  sat 
near  an  open  window,  and  never  did  they 
enjoy  a  dinner  more.  College  work  was  now 
over,  and  on  the  threshold  of  life,  apart 
from  the  busy  world  in  sight  below,  two 
souls  could  plan  and  confide  in  each  other. 
As  the  two  walked  the  broad  porch,  a 
panorama  unfolded  before  them  of  almost 
unsurpassed  beauty. 

Charles  Sumner  who,  in  1847,  stood  on 
Mt.  Holyoke,  said,  "I  have  never  seen  any 
thing  so  unsurpassingly  lovely  as  this." 
He  had  traveled  through  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland,  up  and  down  the  Rhine,  had 
ascended  Mont  Blanc,  and  stood  on  the 
Campagna  in  Rome.  Gertrude  with  her 
college  mates  had  often  climbed  Mt.  Hol 
yoke,  and  she  was  very  familiar  with  this 
masterpiece  of  nature  in  western  Mas 
sachusetts.  So  she  described  the  grand 
landscape  to  her  lover  who  sat  enchanted 
with  the  scene  before  him. 

"This  alluvial  basin, "  she  said,  "is 
twenty  miles  in  length  and  fifteen  in  width, 
and  is  enclosed  by  the  Mt.  Holyoke  and 
Mt.  Tom  ranges,  and  the  abrupt  cones  of 


In  Touch  with  Nature 


Toby  and  Sugar  Loaf,  while  the  Green 
Mountains  lie  to  the  north,  whence  the  rich 
soils  have  been  brought  by  thousands  of 
vernal  floods.  Grove-like  masses  of  elms 
mark  well  the  townships  of  Northampton, 
Easthampton,  Southampton  and  West- 
harnpton,  Hatfield,  Williamsburg  and 
Whately,  Hadley,  Amherst,  Leverett  and 
Sunderland. 

"In  twelve  miles,  the  Connecticut  River 
turns  four  times  to  the  east  and  three 
times  to  the  west,  forming  the  famous 
4  Ox-Bow.' 

"This  beautiful  river  receives  its  life 
from  springs  in  adjacent  forests  and  moun 
tains,  and,  forcing  a  passage  between  Mt. 
Holyoke  and  Mt.  Nonotuck,  flows  far 
south  into  Long  Island  Sound.  Its  banks 
are  fringed  with  a  tanglewood  of  willows, 
shrubs,  trees,  and  clambering  vines.  Bor 
dering  on  the  Connecticut  Eiver  and  near 
thrifty  towns  are  thousands  of  acres  of 
rich  meadows  and  arable  lands,  without 
fence,  which  are  interspersed  with  lofty 
trees  and  orchards  and  covered  with  exqui 
site  verdure. 

"These  countless  farms  seen  from  this 
mountain  top  resemble  garden  plots,  dis 
tinguishable  from  each  other  by  vegeta- 


186    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

tion  varying  in  tints  from  the  dark  green 
of  the  maize  to  the  brilliant  gold  of  barley, 
rye,  and  oats.  Over  the  billowy  grain,  cloud 
shadows  chase  each  other  as  if  in  play. 
Grazing  herds  are  on  every  hillside  and 
in  all  the  valleys. ' ' 

Gertrude's  words  were  music  to 
George 's  ear.  Her  voice  and  the  mag 
nificent  landscape  charmed  him.  When  re 
leased  from  the  spell  he  said,  "Yes,  dear, 
you  have  this  day  hung  a  never-to-be-for 
gotten  picture  in  my  memory.  I  shall  always 
remember  the  arching  elms,  white  gables, 
college  towers,  and  spires  pointing  heaven 
ward  that  mark  the  towns  in  this  historic 
and  lovely  intervale.  I  seem  to  hear  far 
off  sounds  of  busy  people,  thrifty  mills, 
and  successful  railways.  These  reveal  the 
secret  of  New  England's  power  at  home 
and  abroad.  The  greatness  of  this  people 
springs  from  their  respect  for,  and  prac 
tice  of,  the  virtues  so  long  taught  in  their 
schools  and  churches ;  viz.,  honesty,  indus 
try,  economy,  love  of  liberty,  and  belief 
in  God.  Here  can  be  found  inspirations  for 
poet,  painter,  and  sculptor." 

How  glorious  the  picture  as  the  two 
young  lovers  looked  out  upon  the  world 
of  promise!  It  was  well  thus,  for  much 


In  Touch  with  Nature  187 

too  soon  in  life,  humanity  experiences  the 
same  old  story  of  unsatisfied  ambitions  and 
weary  struggles  after  the  unattainable. 

Thus  a  happy  summer  afternoon  was 
enjoyed  till  the  sun  hid  his  face  behind 
the  western  hills.  Clouds  floated  low  on 
the  horizon,  revealing  behind  the  gold  and 
purple  to  ambitious  souls  the  indistinct  out 
lines  of  a  gorgeous  temple  of  fame;  and 
birds  of  rich  plumage  among  the  mountain 
foliage  were  lulled  to  sleep  by  their  own 
sweet  songs. 

"Life  without  Gertrude,7'  thought 
George,  "would  prove  a  failure."  Then 
taking  her  white  hand  in  his,  he  whispered, 
"I  love  you,  dearest,  with  all  my  heart,  and 
you  must  be  my  wife. ' ' 

"George,"  she  replied,  "in  a  thousand 
ways  you  have  shown  it.  I  have  known 
your  heart  ever  since  we  studied  together 
at  the  high  school.  My  own  life  has  been 
ennobled  by  contact  with  yours. ' '  Her  voice 
and  hand  trembled  as  she  added,  "Yes, 
George,  my  life  and  happiness  I  gladly 
place  in  your  sacred  keeping,  and  I  prom 
ise  purity  and  loyalty  for  eternity." 

Then  George  opened  the  little  case 
which  he  had  brought  from  New  York,  and 
gave  Gertrude  a  ring  containing  two  dia- 


188    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

monds  and  a  ruby,  which  surprised  and 
delighted  her.  She  placed  it  on  her  first 
finger,  saying,  "George,  we  will  advance 
this  crystal  pledge  to  the  third  finger  just 
as  soon  as  we  get  the  consent  of  father  and 
mother. ' ' 

Gertrude  had  found  on  a  former  trip 
some  purple  crystals  on  the  mountain 
side,  and  had  had  two  unique  emblems  of 
their  love  made  in  New  York  City.  George 
pinned  upon  Gertrude  a  gold  star  set  with 
a  purple  amethyst,  a  tiny  cross  and  a  guard 
chain  being  attached,  and  she  gave  George 
a  gold  cross  set  with  an  amethyst,  the 
guard  pin  being  a  tiny  star  and  chain. 
Before  midnight  the  two  happy  lovers 
had  joined  the  mother  and  Lucille  in 
New  York,  and  at  the  close  of  the  week  all 
had  returned  to  Harris ville. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  STRIKE  AT  HARBISVILLE 

LABOR  strikes  are  terribly  disagreeable 
things  to  encounter  whether  in  the  daily 
routine  of  steel  mills  and  railways,  or  in 
the  kitchen  before  breakfast  on  blue  Mon 
day.  Especially  inconvenient  are  strikes  in 
steel  mills  when  the  order  books  are  full 
as  were  those  of  the  Harrisville  Iron  & 
Steel  Co.  That  the  company  had  large 
orders  could  not  possibly  be  concealed. 
Vast  quantities  of  ore,  limestone,  and  coke 
were  being  delivered  daily  at  the  mills. 
Never  were  more  men  on  the  pay-roll,  and 
all  the  machinery  of  the  gigantic  plant 
was  crowded  to  its  utmost  night  and  day. 
That  business  had  improved  was  evident 
to  everybody. 

In  love  and  war  all  things  are  fair,  and 
the  same  principle,  or  lack  of  it,  seems  to 
control  most  modern  strikes.  No  doubt 
what  young  Alfonso  Harris  told  his 
mother  on  the  steamer  was  true,  that  the 
labor  agitators  were  advised  of  Reuben 


190    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Harris's  plan  to  sell  the  steel  plant  to 
an  English  syndicate.  Souls  of  corpora 
tions  decrease  as  the  distance  between 
labor  and  capital  increases,  and  naturally 
American  employees  oppose  foreign  con 
trol  of  every  kind. 

For  more  than  a  year  the  employees 
had  accepted  reduced  wages  with  the 
understanding  that  the  old  scale  should 
be  restored  by  the  company  as  soon  as 
times  improved  and  the  business  war 
ranted.  That  the  employees  had  timed 
their  strike  at  an  opportune  moment  was 
apparent  even  to  stubborn  Eeuben  Harris. 
It  was  galling  indeed  to  his  sensitive  nature 
and  proud  spirit  that  his  project  of 
selling  the  steel  plant  for  millions  should 
have  failed. 

As  he  kissed  his  wife  good-bye  on  the 
steamer  in  New  York,  her  last  words  were, 
"Beuben,  stand  up  for  your  rights."  Her 
avaricious  spirit  had  always  dominated 
him. 

Before  Eeuben  Harris  left  his  city  office 
for  his  home  he  had  arranged,  in  addition 
to  the  precaution  taken  by  the  mayor,  to 
dispatch  to  the  mills  and  homes  of  his 
employees  twenty-five  special  detectives 
in  citizens'  clothes,  who  were  to  keep  him 


The  Strike  at  HarrisviUe          191 

fully  advised  as  to  the  doings  of  his 
employees  ahout  the  mills  and  in  their 
public  and  private  meetings.  He  had  given 
his  men  no  concessions  in  a  previous  strike 
which  lasted  for  months.  He  would  neither 
recognize  their  unions  nor  their  demand 
for  shorter  hours. 

It  was  true  he  had  risen  to  be  a  million 
aire  from  the  humble  position  of  a 
blacksmith,  but  he  was  always  severe  in 
his  own  shop.  Every  horse  must  be  shod, 
and  every  tire  set  in  his  own  way.  He 
heated,  hammered,  and  tempered  steel  just 
as  he  liked,  and  if  anybody  objected  he 
replied,  "Go  elsewhere  then."  To  have 
one's  own  way  in  life  is  often  an  expensive 
luxury.  In  his  first  great  mill  strike  Colonel 
Harris  lost  most  of  his  skilled  labor  and 
the  profits  of  half  a  year.  His  own  hands 
and  those  of  James  Ingram  became  callous 
in  breaking  in  new  employees. 

Gertrude  had  arrived  on  the  evening  of 
the  third  day  of  the  strike,  and  had  busied 
herself  in  unpacking  her  trunk.  She  knew 
her  father  too  well  to  talk  much  to  him 
about  the  strike.  While  waiting  in  the 
drawing-room  for  her  father,  knowing  that 
George  was  too  busy  to  come  to  her,  she 
had  written  to  her  lover  as  follows: — 


192    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

AT  HOME 
My  Darling  George, — 

I  wish  you  were  here  safe  by  my  side. 
How  I  hate  strikes,  they  are  so  like  a 
family  quarrel  on  the  front  porch.  Every 
body  looks  on  in  pity,  husband  and  wife 
calling  each  other  names,  and  breaking  the 
furniture,  and  innocent  little  children  flee 
ing  to  the  neighbors  for  protection.  Strikes 
are  simply  horrid.  Can't  you  stop  it? 
Labor  and  capital  are  like  bears  in  a  pit 
with  sharpened  teeth  tearing  each  other's 
flesh.  Of  what  use  is  our  so-called  civiliza 
tion  if  it  permits  such  brutal  scenes? 
George,  the  lion  in  father  is  again  aroused. 
There  is  no  telling  what  he  will  do  this 
time. 

It  was  cruel  of  the  employees  to  stop 
his  sale  to  the  English  syndicate.  Some 
thing  terrible  is  going  to  happen.  I  feel 
it.  I  dreamed  about  it  last  night  before 
I  left  Niagara.  You  must  counsel  modera 
tion.  I  am  so  glad  mother  is  not  here  to 
counsel  severity.  In  the  morning  I  shall 
put  my  hand  on  father's  arm,  and  say, 
"Father,  I  have  been  praying  for  God  to 
help  you. ' ' 

I  read  in  the  Evening  Dispatch  that 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          193 

the  employees  claimed  an  increase  of  their 
pay  because  promised  by  the  company 
when  times  improved;  that  the  company 
now  flatly  refused  to  restore  the  old 
wages;  that  the  mayor  of  the  city  had 
sent  fifty  policemen  to  guard  the  mills, 
and  that  the  4000  employees  in  an  enthu 
siastic  public  meeting  had  resolved  to 
continue  the  strike. 

George,  you  are  in  a  very  trying  posi 
tion.  The  company  of  course  depends  on 
your  loyalty,  and  the  employees  also  have 
great  confidence  in  your  fairness.  What 
can  you  do?  If  disloyal  to  the  Company, 
you  lose  your  position.  What  more  can  I 
do,  except  to  pray? 

Above  all,  my  dear,  be  loyal  to  your 
conscience  and  do  right.  Be  just.  Come 
and  see  me  at  your  earliest  possible 
moment. 

Your  own  loving 

GERTRUDE. 

Gertrude's  brave  letter  reached  George 
before  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and 
greatly  cheered  him.  He  was  never  more 
occupied,  but  he  snatched  a  moment  to  say 
in  reply: 


194   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

OFFICE  OF 

THE  HAEEISVILLE  IKON  &  STEEL  Co. 
Dearest  Peacemaker, — 

Glad  for  your  heroic  letter.  It  sings  the 
peace-song  of  the  angels.  I  shall  be  guarded 
in  my  words  and  actions.  Good  things,  I 
hope,  will  result  from  all  this  terrible  com 
motion.  I  confess  I  see  only  darkness 
ahead,  save  as  it  is  pierced  by  the  light 
of  your  love. 

We  have  a  thousand  men  this  morning 
building  a  fence  eight  feet  high  around 
our  works.  It  looks  like  war  to  the  knife 
under  the  present  policy.  Of  course  I  can't 
say  much  till  my  opportunity  comes,  if  it 
ever  does. 

Believe  me,  darling  Gertrude, 
Wholly  yours, 

GEOKGE. 

The  note  was  dispatched  by  special 
messenger.  Its  receipt  and  contents  gave 
comfort  to  Gertrude. 

Colonel  Harris  left  his  breakfast  table 
almost  abruptly.  One  egg,  a  piece  of  toast, 
and  a  cup  of  coffee  were  all  he  ate.  It 
was  an  earlier  meal  than  usual  which  the 
Swiss  cook  had  prepared,  and  by  half  past 
six  Colonel  Harris  started  from  home  to 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          195 

his  office,  Gertrude  from  her  chamber 
window  kissing  her  hand  to  him,  saying, 
' '  Keep  cool,  father ! ' ' 

By  seven  o'clock  he  and  his  capable 
manager  were  busily  using  the  two  office 
telephones.  Before  nine  o'clock,  all  the 
teams  of  several  lumber  firms  were  en 
gaged  in  hauling  fence  posts,  two  by  four 
scantling,  and  sufficient  sixteen  foot  boards 
to  construct  a  fence  eight  feet  high  about 
the  entire  premises  of  the  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co.'s  plant. 

This  early  action  of  the  company  for  a 
time  confused  the  strike  managers,  as 
they  could  not  divine  whether  Colonel 
Harris  in  a  fit  of  despair  planned  to  fence 
in  and  close  down  his  mills,  or,  perhaps, 
once  getting  his  plant  enclosed,  purposed 
to  eject  all  members  of  labor  organizations, 
and  again  as  in  a  former  strike,  attempt 
to  start  his  plant  with  non-union  labor. 

The  leader  of  the  strike  was  a  brawny 
man  with  full  beard,  unkempt  hair,  and 
a  face  far  from  attractive.  "Captain  O' 
Connor,"  as  the  labor  lodges  knew  him, 
was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  strike. 
He  was  not  an  employee  at  the  steel 
mills,  but  an  expert  manager  of  strikes, 
receiving  a  good  salary,  and  employed  by 


196    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  officers  of  the  central  union.  At  2:30 
o'clock  a  secret  meeting  of  the  officers  of 
the  several  labor  lodges  and  Captain 
O'Connor  was  held  behind  closed  doors. 
All  were  silent,  when  suddenly  O'Connor 
rose  and  began  to  denounce  capital,  charg 
ing  it  with  the  robbery  of  honest  labor. 

"Behold  labor,"  he  said,  "stripped  to 
the  waist,  perspiring  at  every  pore  in  the 
blinding  heat  of  molten  iron,  shooting  out 
hissing  sparks.  Pleasures  for  you  laborers 
are  banished;  your  wives  and  children  are 
dressed  in  cheap  calicoes;  no  linen  or  good 
food  on  your  tables,  and  most  of  you  are  in 
debt." 

This  and  more  Captain  O'Connor  said 
in  excited  language.  Finally  he  shouted, 
"Slaves,  will  you  tamely  submit  to  all  this 
indignity  and  not  resent  it?  The  managers 
of  the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.  are 
tyrants  of  the  worst  sort.  They  are  fenc 
ing  you  out  today  from  the  only  field  on 
which  you  can  gain  bread  for  your  starv 
ing  wives  and  children. 

"Reuben  Harris  cares  more  for  his 
gold  than  for  your  souls.  Since  you  refuse 
him  your  labor  on  his  own  terms,  he 
purposes  by  aid  of  the  high  fence  and 
bayonets  to  forbid  every  one  of  you 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          197 

union  men  from  earning  an  honest  living. ' ' 
The  strike  committee  decided  to  call  a 
public  meeting  of  all  the  employees  of  the 
steel  works  on  the  base-ball  grounds  at. 
7  o'clock  the  next  morning.  All  the  saloons 
that  night  were  crowded,  and  loud  denunci 
ation  of  capital  was  indulged  in  by  the 
strike  leaders.  Early  the  next  morning  a 
band  of  music  marched  up  and  down  the 
streets  where  the  employees  resided,  and 
by  7  o'clock  nearly  four  thousand  men  had 
gathered. 

The  chief  spokesman  was  Captain 
O'Connor  whose  words  evoked  great 
cheering.  He  said,  "Friends,  we  meet  this 
morning  to  strike  for  our  freedom.  How 
do  you  like  being  fenced  out  from  your 
work?  What  will  your  families  do  for  a 
roof  when  the  snows  come  and  you  have 
no  bread  for  your  children?  We  are  assem 
bled  here  not  for  talk,  but  for  action.  T 
hold  in  my  hand  a  resolution  which  we 
must  pass.  Let  me  read  it :  '  Resolved,  that 
we,  the  employees  of  The  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co.,  having  been  driven  out  of  our 
positions  by  a  soulless  corporation  which 
promised  a  return  to  former  wages  when 
the  times  improved,  will  not  re-engage  our 
services  to  the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel 


198    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Co.  till  the  promised  restoration  of  wages 
is  granted. "  This  resolution  was  unani 
mously  carried,  with  hurrahs  and  beating 
of  the  drums. 

"Bravo  men!  Here  is  another  resolution 
for  your  action/'  and  Captain  O'Connor 
read  it  as  follows:  "American  citizens! 
In  the  spirit  of  brotherly  love  we  appeal 
to  you  citizens  and  taxpayers  of  Harris- 
ville  for  fair  play.  Four  years  ago  the 
employees  of  the  Hafrisville  Iron  &  Steel 
Co.  bowed  before  the  law,  and  we  should 
continue  to  do  so  had  we  not  discovered 
that  the  law,  the  judges,  and  the  govern 
ment  seem  to  be  for  the  rich  alone.  But 
we  prefer  liberty  to  slavery,  and  war  to 
starvation.  Again  we  lay  down  our  tools 
and  seek  to  arouse  public  sympathy  in  our 
behalf.  Again  we  plead  the  righteousness 
of  our  cause,  and  may  the  God  of  the 
poor  help  us." 

This  resolution  was  carried  with  shouts 
and  the  throwing  up  of  hats.  The  band 
began  playing,  and  the  procession  headed 
by  Captain  O'Connor  and  his  assistants 
moved  forward. 

A  third  of  the  sober-minded  of  the 
employees  soon  dropped  out  of  the  proces 
sion,  while  three  thousand  or  more,  many 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          199 

of  them  foreigners,  were  only  too  glad  to 
escape  the  everyday  serfdom  of  a  steel 
plant.  All  were  armed  with  clubs  and 
stones.  When  O'Connor  from  the  hill-top 
looked  back  upon  the  mob  that  filled  the 
street  down  into  the  valley  and  far  up  the 
opposite  hill,  his  courage  for  a  moment 
failed  him. 

"What  shall  I  do  with  this  vast  army?" 
he  said  to  himself.  Just  then  the  employees 
made  a  rush  for  the  company's  furnaces 
by  the  riverside,  filling  the  yards  and 
approaches,  shouting  "Bank  the  fires! 
Down  with  capital ! ' ' 

The  big  engines  were  stopped  and  the 
furnaces  were  left  to  cool.  Frightened 
faces  of  women  and  children  filled  the 
door-ways  and  windows  of  the  many  little 
brown  houses  on  the  hill-side.  Success 
emboldened  the  strikers  whose  numbers 
were  now  greatly  augmented.  Again  the 
band  played  and  the  strike  managers 
shouted, ' '  Forward ! ' ' 

The  route  taken  was  along  an  aristocra 
tic  avenue  where  the  wealthy  resided. 
Windows  and  doors  were  suddenly  closed, 
and  the  terrified  occupants  forgot  their 
riches,  their  diamonds,  and  their  fine  dress, 
and  thought  only  of  safety.  Vulcans  of 


200    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  steel  works,  each  armed  with  a  club, 
occupied  the  avenue  for  two  miles.  Evi 
dences  of  hunger  and  vengeance  were  in 
their  faces  and  sadly  worn  garments  were 
on  their  backs. 

Prominent  citizens  now  hurried  to  the 
mayor's  office,  where  the  chief  executive 
was  found  in  conference  with  some  of  the 
]abor  leaders.  The  mayor  was  told  that 
unless  he  acted  promptly  in  restoring 
peace  and  protecting  property,  a  citizens' 
committee  of  safety  would  be  organized, 
that  he  would  be  placed  under  arrest,  and 
the  mob  driven  back.  At  once  the  mayor 
sent  one  hundred  policemen  in  patrol  wag 
ons  in  pursuit  of  the  rioters.  The  latter  had 
already  battered  down  the  great  doors  of 
the  screw-works,  and  hundreds  of  em 
ployees,  men,  women,  and  children,  were 
driven  out  of  the  factory.  The  president 
of  the  company  was  beaten  into  insensi 
bility.  Adjacent  nail  works  were  ordered 
to  close  and  all  employees  were  driven  into 
the  streets.  Finally,  near  night,  the  strikers 
were  subdued  by  platoons  of  police  and 
forced  to  return  to  their  homes. 

The  mayor  issued  his  riot  act,  which 
was  printed  in  all  the  evening  papers  and 
read  as  follows: 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          201 

TO    THE    CITIZENS    OF    HABBISVILLE    AND    THE 
PUBLIC  GENEBALLY. 

In  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  State 
of  Ohio,  I,  David  A.  Duty,  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Harrisville,  do  hereby  require 
all  persons  within  the  limits  of  the  City 
to  refrain  from  unnecessary  assemblies 
in  the  streets,  squares,  or  in  public  places 
of  the  City  during  its  present  disturbed 
condition,  and  until  quiet  is  restored,  and 
I  hereby  give  notice  that  the  police  have 
been  ordered,  and  the  militia  requested 
to  disperse  any  unlawful  assemblies.  I  ex- 
ort  all  persons  to  assist  in  the  observance 
of  this  request. 

DAVID  A.  DUTY. 

Mayor. 

The  mayor  telegraphed  to  the  governor 
for  troops.  The  governor  responded 
promptly,  and  ordered  the  First  Brigade 
to  be  in  readiness,  and  to  report  at  5  A.  M. 
next  morning  in  Harrisville,  with  rifles, 
cannon,  Gatling  and  Hotchkiss  guns  and 
ammunition.  Orderlies  went  flying  through 
the  city  with  summons  that  must  be 
obeyed.  The  signal  corps  flashed  their 
green  and  red  lights  from  the  tower  to 
distant  armories.  Ambulance  corps  has- 


202    The  Harris-Ingrain  Experiment 

tened  their  preparation,  packing  saws, 
knives,  lint,  and  bandages. 

Imperative  orders  from  general  to 
colonels,  to  majors,  to  captains,  to  cor 
porals  tracked  the  militia  men  to  their 
homes,  and  to  their  places  of  amusement. 
By  midnight  every  military  organization 
in  Harrisville  was  under  arms.  The  gen 
eral  with  his  staff  was  at  his  head 
quarters  and  ready  for  action. 

Before  sunset  Colonel  Harris  had  his 
steel  mills  enclosed  by  a  high  fortress- 
fence;  many  agents  were  dispatched  to 
other  cities  to  advertise  for,  and  contract 
with,  skilled  labor  for  his  mills.  On  his 
way  home,  he  called  again  on  the  mayor, 
also  at  brigade  headquarters,  and  satisfied 
himself  that  his  property  would  be  pro 
tected.  In  forty-eight  hours  five  hundred 
new  workmen  had  arrived,  and  in  squads 
of  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  they  were  com 
ing  in  on  every  train. 

Colonel  Harris,  experienced  in  strikes, 
knew  just  what  to  do.  A  great  warehouse 
in  the  board  enclosure  was  converted  into 
barracks  and  supplied  with  beds,  and 
kitchens,  and  an  old  army  quartermaster 
was  placed  in  charge.  The  new  men  on 
arrival  were  taken  under  escort  of  the 


The  Strike  at  HarrisvUle          203 

soldiers  to  the  barracks,  and  were  rapidly 
set  to  work  under  loyal  foremen. 

In  a  single  week  Colonel  Harris  had 
secured  over  fifteen  hundred  new  men. 
Smoke-stacks  were  again  pouring  forth 
huge  volumes  of  smoke.  The  renewed  and 
familiar  hum  of  machinery  was  audible 
beyond  the  high  board  fence.  This  activity 
in  the  mills  was  to  the  old  employees  like 
a  red  flag  flaunted  before  an  enraged  bull. 
Inflammatory  speeches  were  the  order  of 
the  hour.  It  was  three  o'clock  on  the  eighth 
day  of  the  strike,  when  three  thousand  of 
the  old  employees  left  their  halls  and 
marched  directly  to  the  steel  mills.  Hun 
dreds  of  women  and  children  joined  the 
long  procession. 

The  strike  leaders  in  advance  carried 
the  American  flag,  and  their  band  played 
the  ''Star  Spangled  Banner."  Most  of  the 
men,  and  some  of  the  women,  carried  clubs 
and  stones.  Radicals  concealed  red  flags 
and  pistols  within  their  coats.  Detectives 
reported  by  telephone  the  threatening  atti 
tude  of  the  strikers  to  Colonel  Harris  at 
his  home,  to  Manager  Thomas  at  the  mills, 
and  to  the  mayor  who  ordered  more  police 
in  patrol  wagons  to  proceed  immediately 
to  the  steel  works.  Following  the  police 


204    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

rode  the  Harrisville  Troop,  one  hundred 
strong.  Gertrude  would  not  let  her  father 
go  to  the  steel  plant,  so  he  sat  by  the 
telephone  in  his  own  house. 

Captain  Crager  in  charge  of  the  fifty 
police  on  guard  in  and  around  the  steel 
plant  at  once  concentrated  his  force  at  the 
great  gateway  leading  into  the  fenced 
enclosure.  His  men  were  formed  in  three 
platoons,  the  reserve  platoon  being  sta 
tioned  fifty  feet  in  the  rear.  Captain 
Crager  himself  took  position  in  the  center 
of  the  first  line.  He  had  time  only  for  a 
few  words  to  his  men.  "The  city  expects 
each  policeman  to  do  his  duty.  No  one  is 
to  use  his  revolver  till  he  sees  me  use 
mine.  Stand  shoulder  to  shoulder,  use 
your  clubs,  and  defend  the  gateway." 

Probably  not  one  of  his  fifty  men  had 
ever  read  of  the  300  Spartan  heroes  at 
Thermopylae,  who  for  three  days  held  at 
bay  the  Persian  army  of  five  millions.  To 
pit  fifty  policemen  against  three  thousand 
enraged  strikers  was  too  great  odds.  Cap 
tain  Crager 's  orders  were  "to  defend  the 
property  of  the  steel  company. "  The 
reserve  police  force  and  troops  en  route 
might  or  might  not  reach  him  in  time. 
The  strikers  purposed  driving  out  of  the 


The  Strike  at  Harrisville          205 

mills  all  the  non-union  men,  and  taking 
possession.  Nearer  came  the  mob,  deter 
mined  to  rule  or  ruin,  O'Connor  in  the 
lead  holding  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  The 
last  fifty  feet  of  approach  to  the  gateway, 
the  mob  planned  to  cover  by  a  rush.  On 
they  came  swinging  their  clubs  and  filling 
the  air  with  stones. 

Captain  Crager  and  his  platoons  used 
their  short  iron-wood  clubs  vigorously. 
The  strikers'  flag  was  captured.  O'Connor 
fell  bleeding.  Right  and  left,  heads  and 
limbs  were  broken.  Women  screamed  and 
strong  men  turned  pale.  The  whole  mob 
was  soon  stampeded  and  the  rioters  fled 
like  animals  before  a  prairie  fire.  Those 
strikers  who  looked  back  saw  the  approach 
of  more  patrol  wagons  loaded  with  police, 
heard  the  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs,  and  the 
heavy  rumbling  of  artillery,  and  they  knew 
that  the  city's  reserve  forces  had  arrived. 
A  battery  of  Gatling  guns  at  once  wheeled 
into  a  strategic  position.  The  police  and 
troop  occupied  points  of  advantage,  and 
soon  the  victory  was  complete. 

Within  thirty  days  over  four  thousand 
employees,  mostly  new  men,  were  at  work 
in  the  steel  mills.  Policemen  and  detec 
tives,  however,  were  still  kept  on  duty. 


206    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Colonel  Harris  was  frequently  congratu 
lated  on  his  second  triumph,  and  orders 
for  steel  rails  were  again  being  rapidly 
filled. 

Most  of  the  strike  leaders  left  the  city, 
some  threatening  dire  revenge.  Many  of 
the  employees,  who  had  lost  their  situa 
tions,  were  already  searching  for  work 
elsewhere.  All  who  were  behind  in  their 
payments  of  rents  due  the  company,  were 
served  with  notices  of  evictment,  as  the 
tenements  were  needed  for  the  new  em 
ployees.  Wives  and  children  were  crying 
for  bread.  In  sixty  days  labor  had  lost  by 
the  strike  over  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  capital  even  more. 


It  was  in  August.  The  moon  had  set 
beyond  the  blue  lake,  and  the  myriad 
lights  of  heaven  were  hung  out,  as  George 
and  Gertrude  alighted  from  their  carriage 
in  front  of  Colonel  Harris's  residence. They 
had  been  to  the  Grand  Opera  House,  where 
they  had  witnessed  Shakespeare's  "Mid 
summer  Night's  Dream,"  beautifully 
played  by  Julia  Marlowe  and  her  company. 
Between  the  acts,  George  and  Gertrude 
talked  much  of  the  strike,  of  labor  troubles 


T/ie  Strike  at  Harrisville 


in  general,  and  earnestly  discussed  the 
possible  remedies. 

Reuben  Harris,  who  had  awaited  their 
return,  hearing  the  carriage  drive  up,  ex 
tended  a  cordial  welcome.  His  hand  was 
on  the  knob  of  the  front  door,  which  stood 
half  open,  when  the  sky  above  the  steel 
mills  suddenly  became  illuminated  and 
deafening  reports  of  explosions  followed. 
The  door,  held  by  Harris,  was  slammed 
by  the  concussion  against  the  wall,  the 
glass  in  the  windows  rattled  on  the 
floor,  the  ground  trembled,  Harris  seized 
George's  arm  for  support,  and  Gertrude's 
face  was  blanched  with  fear.  Fire  and 
smoke  in  great  volumes  were  now  seen 
rising  above  the  steel  plant. 

George  ran  to  the  telephone,  but  before 
he  could  shout  "  Exchange,  "  a  call  came 
for  Colonel  Harris  from  his  night  super 
intendent,  who  announced  that  the  engines 
and  batteries  of  boilers  had  been  blown 
up,  and  that  all  the  mills  were  on  fire.  The 
chief  of  police  telephoned  that  he  had 
sent  one  hundred  more  police  to  the  mills  ; 
the  chief  of  the  fire  department  tele 
phoned  that  ten  steamers  had  been  dis 
patched.  George  dropped  the  telephone, 
kissed  Gertrude,  and  on  the  back  of  her 


208    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Kentucky  saddle  horse  flew  into  the  dark 
ness  to  direct  matters  at  the  mills  as  best 
he  could. 

The  next  morning's  Dispatch  contained 
two  full  pages,  headed, 

' '  THE  DEADLY  DYNAMITE  ! 

FRIGHTFUL  Loss  OF  LIFE, 

AND 
DESTRUCTION  OF  PROPERTY 

AT 
THE  HARRISVILLE  IRON  &  STEEL  PLANT. 

"One  hundred  employees  were  killed  out 
right,  and  hundreds  more  were  wounded. 
All  the  mills  were  either  burned  or 
wrecked.  Many  women  and  children  were 
also  injured.  Five  hundred  tenement 
houses  were  damaged,  and  the  windows  of 
most  of  the  buildings  within  a  half  mile 
of  the  mills  were  badly  broken. " 

Next  morning  the  citizens  of  Harrisville 
were  wild  with  excitement.  Ringing  edito 
rials  appeared  in  all  the  morning  and 
evening  journals  declaring  that  "Lawless 
ness  is  anarchy,"  and  that  "Law  and 
order  must  prevail," 


CHAPTER  XIII 

TRIAL  OF  ANARCHY  AND  RESULTS 

GEORGE  INGRAM  had  scarcely  disappeared 
in  the  darkness,  when  Colonel  Harris  fully 
comprehending  the  terrible  situation  at  his 
works  telephoned  the  exchange  to  summon 
at  once  to  his  mills  every  physician  and 
ambulance  in  the  city. 

The  Colonel  then  ordered  his  carriage, 
and  taking  Gertrude,  rapidly  drove  to  the 
scene  of  the  disaster.  Great  crowds  had 
gathered,  but  the  policemen,  and  the  Har 
ris  ville  Troop,  already  had  established 
lines  about  the  burning  steel  mills,  beyond 
which  the  people  were  not  permitted  to 
pass.  The  police  and  fire  departments  were 
doing  all  in  their  power  to  save  life  and 
property. 

Colonel  Harris  drove  directly  towards 
his  office  at  the  mills,  but  this  he  could 
not  reach  as  policemen  guarded  every 
approach.  The  two  story  brick  office  had 
been  completely  wrecked  by  a  huge  piece 
of  one  of  the  fly-wheels,  that  had  fallen 
through  the  roof. 


210    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

The  night  watchman  whose  duty  it  was 
to  enter  the  office  hourly  was  killed,  and 
his  bleeding  body  was  now  being  moved  to 
a  temporary  morgue,  which  had  been 
established  in  an  adjoining  old  town-hall. 
Already  over  fifty  mangled  forms  had 
been  brought  in  and  laid  in  rows  on  the 
floor,  and  more  dead  workmen  were  arriv 
ing  every  moment. 

The  mayor  and  Colonel  Harris  were 
everywhere  directing  what  to  do.  Scores 
of  the  wounded  were  hurried  in  ambu 
lances  to  a  large  Catholic  Church,  an  im 
provised  hospital.  Here  were  sent  physi 
cians,  volunteer  nurses,  beds,  and  blankets. 
Fortunately  the  seats  in  the  church,  being 
movable,  were  quickly  carried  into  the 
streets,  and  on  beds  and  blankets  the 
suffering  men  were  placed,  and  an  exami 
nation  of  each  wounded  person  was  being 
made.  Names  and  addresses  were  taken 
by  the  reporters,  and  ambulances  began 
to  remove  the  severely  injured  to  the 
city  hospitals. 

Colonel  Harris  left  Gertrude  to  minister 
to  the  wounded  in  the  church,  and  sought 
out  Wilson  his  manager,  and  George  In 
gram.  Everybody  worked  till  daylight. 
Many  wounded  and  dead  men,  and  women 


Trial  of  Anarchy  and  Results      211 

and  children  were  brought  up  to  the 
morgue  and  hospitals  from  the  wrecked 
tenements  that  stood  near  the  exploded 
mills.  Several  bodies  of  the  dead  workmen, 
and  the  wounded  who  could  not  escape 
from  the  burning  works  were  consumed. 
When  the  sun  rose  on  that  dreadful 
scene,  thousands  of  workmen  and  their 
families  and  tens  of  thousands  of  sym 
pathizers  witnessed  in  silence  the  awful 
work  of  anarchists.  At  daylight  Colonel 
Harris  rode  with  George  and  Gertrude 
home  to  breakfast. 

In  the  evening  press  a  call  for  a  public 
meeting  at  8  o'clock  next  morning  of  the 
prominent  citizens  resulted  in  the  forming 
of  an  emergency  committee  of  one  hun 
dred  earnest  men  and  women  to  furnish 
aid  to  the  afflicted  and  needy  work-people. 
The  most  influential  people  of  Harrisville 
were  enrolled  on  this  committee,  which 
to  be  more  thoroughly  effective  was  sub 
divided.  Every  house  occupied  by  the  mill- 
people  was  visited,  and  every  injured 
person  was  cared  for. 

The  women  on  the  committee  visited  the 
hospitals  and  for  a  time  became  nurses 
ministering  to  ever}7  want.  Money  and 
abundance  of  food  were  also  contributed, 


212    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

and  such  kindness  on  the  part  of  the  rich 
the  work-people  had  never  known  before. 

The  evening  papers  gave  the  authori 
tative  statement  that  the  total  number  of 
those  killed  outright  by  the  explosions  at 
the  steel  mills  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven.  Of  this  number  eighty-six 
were  workmen,  fourteen  were  men  who 
lived  in  the  vicinity,  but  were  not  employed 
in  the  mills,  ten  were  women,  and  seven 
teen  were  children.  The  total  number  of 
wounded  was  sixty-eight. 

A  public  funeral  was  decided  upon  by 
the  committee.  The  Harrisville  Iron  & 
Steel  Co.  sent  their  check  for  $5000  to  the 
committee  and  many  others  contributed 
money.  The  time  fixed  for  the  public 
services  was  Sunday  at  2  o'clock.  Ten 
separate  platforms  for  the  clergy  and 
church  choirs  of  the  city  had  been  erected 
on  the  same  open  fields  where  the  great 
strike  meetings  had  so  often  been  held, 
By  1  o'clock  people  began  to  assemble. 
Workmen  came  from  all  parts  of  the  city, 
till  over  fifty  thousand  laborers  with  their 
wives  were  on  the  ground.  Most  wore  black 
crepe  on  their  arm. 

Fifteen  minutes  before  2  o'clock  solemn 
band  music  gave  notice  to  the  crowd  of  the 


Trial  of  Anarchy  and  Results      213 

approach  of  an  imposing  procession.  Pla 
toons  of  police  led  the  column  who  were 
followed  in  carriages  by  the  mayor,  his 
cabinet,  and  the  city  council;  then  an 
other  platoon  of  police,  followed  by  a 
long  line  of  hearses,  the  black  plumes  of 
which  seemed  to  wave  in  unison  with  the 
solemn  tread  of  over  a  thousand  workmen, 
acting  as  pall-bearers,  walking  in  double 
file  on  either  side  of  their  dead  comrades. 

It  was  some  moments  before  the  speak 
ing  could  begin.  By  concerted  action  all 
the  clergy  preached  on  the  "Brotherhood 
of  Mankind/ '  the  text  used  being,  John 
XV.-12.  "This  is  my  commandment, 
That  ye  love  one  another,  as  I  have 
loved  you."  The  speakers  were  moved  by 
the  Holy  Spirit.  The  services  closed  with 
the  hymn,  "Nearer  my  God  to  Thee." 

The  funeral  procession  was  several  miles 
in  length.  Public  and  private  buildings 
along  the  route  to  the  cemetery  were 
draped  with  the  emblems  of  mourning. 
Twenty-five  of  the  bodies  were  given 
private  burial.  Over  one  hundred  of  the 
victims  of  the  dynamite  disaster  were 
buried  in  one  common  grave.  Together 
they  had  died,  and  together  they  were 
buried.  The  mantle  of  charity  covered  them. 


214    The  Harris-Ingvam  Experiment 

Soon  after  the  funeral,  the  press  con 
tained  an  account  of  a  great  meeting  held 
by  the  surviving  workmen  of  the  Harris- 
ville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.,  and  of  resolutions 
that  were  unanimously  adopted: — 

"RESOLVED,  That  we,  the  surviving 
workmen  of  the  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel 
Co.,  hereby  desire  to  express  our  deep  sym 
pathy  with  the  bereaved  families  of  our 
late  comrades  in  toil. 

"That  further  we  desire  to  contribute 
from  the  payroll  due  us  the  wages  received 
for  two  days7  services,  the  same  to  be 
paid  to  the  emergency  committee,  one- 
half  the  proceeds  of  which  is  to  apply  to 
the  relief  of  the  bereaved  workmen's  fam 
ilies,  the  balance  to  be  used  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  suitable  monuments  over  the 
graves  of  our  unfortunate  comrades. 

"RESOLVED,  That  we,  employees  of  the 
Harrisville  Iron  £  Steel  Co.,  extend  our 
sympathy  to  the  company  in  their  great 
financial  loss. 

"That  we  hereby  declare  ourselves  as 
law-abiding  citizens,  and  that  we  neither 
directly,  nor  indirectly,  were  connected  in 
any  manner  with  the  late  dynamite  ex 
plosions  and  fires  which  destroyed  the 
plant  of  The  Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co., 
and  we  denounce  those  acts  as  dastardly 


Trial  of  Anarchy  and  Results      215 

and  inimical  to  the  best  interest  of  labor 
and  civilization." 

Following  the  resolutions  were  appended 
the  signatures  of  over  four  thousand  work 
men.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  resolutions, 
and  names  attached,  should  be  printed  in 
the  press  of  the  city,  and  that  a  copy  should 
be  delivered  to  the  president  of  the  steel 
company.  This  action  freed  the  atmosphere 
of  distrust,  and  business  in  Harrisville 
returned  to  its  accustomed  ways. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the 
Harrisville  Iron  &  Steel  Co.  it  was  voted 
"Not  to  rebuild  our  mills  at  present." 
Manager  Wilson  was  instructed  at  once 
to  so  advise  the  employees,  also  to  dispose 
of  all  the  manufactured  stock  and  raw 
material  on  hand,  and  to  clean  up  the 
grounds  of  the  old  mill  site. 

Colonel  Harris  remembered  the  action 
of  Herr  Krupp  of  Germany  when  a  letter 
once  reached  him,  threatening  to  destroy 
with  dynamite  his  vast  works  at  Essing. 
Herr  Krupp  immediately  called  a  meeting 
of  his  tens  of  thousands  of  workmen,  and 
read  the  letter  to  them,  and  then  said, 
"Workmen,  if  this  threat  is  executed,  I 
shall  never  rebuild."  This  settled  the  mat 
ter. 

The  city  council  of  Harrisville  and  the 


216    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

county  commissioners  offered  rewards  for 
the  arrest  and  conviction  of  the  dyna 
miters.  The  sum  was  increased  to  $10,000 
by  the  steel  company,  and  notices  of  these 
rewards  were  mailed  far  and  wide. 

By  aid  of  an  informer  of  the  band  of 
conspirators,  Mike  O'Connor  and  his  con 
federates  were  arrested  as  they  were 
about  to  embark  for  South  America.  In 
the  hotly  contested  trial  it  was  disclosed 
that  O'Connor  had  directed  the  placing  of 
dynamite  beneath  engines  and  boilers  be 
fore  the  high  board  fence  was  constructed 
about  the  works,  that  electric  wires  to 
ignite  the  dynamite  had  been  laid  under 
ground  from  the  mills  to  an  old  unused 
barn,  nearly  half  a  mile  distant,  and  that 
O'Connor  was  seen  to  come  from  the  barn 
just  after  the  explosion.  Within  two 
months  after  the  arrest,  the  whole  band 
were  convicted  and  sentenced  for  life  to 
hard  labor  in  the  penitentiary. 

It  was  decided  that  Colonel  Harris  and 
Gertrude  should  soon  sail  to  rejoin  Mrs. 
Harris  and  party  in  England,  and  notice 
of  this  decision  was  cabled  next  day  to 
them  at  London.  The  colonel  was  busy 
examining  carefully  George  Ingram 's  de 
tailed  drawings  of  a  new,  enlarged,  and 


Trial  of  Anarchy  and  Results      217 

much  improved  plan  for  a  huge  steel  plant. 
The  improvements  were  to  be  up  to  date, 
and  his  plans  involved  an  entirely  new 
process  of  converting  ores  into  steel.  It 
was  agreed  that  George  and  his  father, 
James  Ingram,  should  perfect  their  inven 
tions  on  which  both  for  a  long  time  had 
been  zealously  at  work,  and  that  later 
George  and  the  colonel  should  make  a  tour 
of  observation  of  leading  iron  and  steel 
works  in  Europe. 

Gertrude  was  now  very  happy.  The 
selled  together,  concerning  the  proper 
relations  of  capital  and  labor,  and  since 
the  explosion  they  studied  the  question 
more  earnestly  than  ever.  Their  scheme 
involved  not  only  improved  works  in  a  new 
location,  but  also  a  plan  to  harmonize,  if 
possible,  capital  and  labor,  which  they 
hoped  might  work  great  good  to  humanity. 
Gertrude  told  George  Ingram  that  his 
golden  opportunity  had  come,  and  she 
resolved  to  render  him  all  the  assistance 
possible. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

COLONEL  HARRIS  FOLLOWS  HIS  FAMILY  ABROAD 

GERTRUDE'S  receipt  for  growing  oranges  in 
a  northern  climate  was  as  follows:  Let  a 
child  hold  a  large  and  a  small  orange  in 
her  hands,  and  give  away  the  large  orange, 
and  the  smaller  will  begin  to  grow  until, 
when  eaten,  it  will  look  bigger  and  taste 
sweeter  than  the  large  fruit  given  away. 
"Try  it!"  Gertrude  often  said. 

That  was  the  principle  by  which  Ger 
trude  Harris  was  always  acting.  If  she 
had  flowers,  fruit,  books,  pretty  gifts,  or 
money,  her  first  thought  always  was,  ' '  How 
can  I  make  somebody  happy?"  With  such 
a  generous  soul,  part  nature's  gift  and 
part  acquired  by  self -sacrifice,  the  life  of 
Gertrude  was  as  buoyant  and  happy  as  the 
birds  in  a  flower  garden. 

The  decision  of  Gertrude's  father  to 
take  her  and  meet  his  family  in  Europe 
was  not  known  in  Harrisville  except  to 
a  few.  Most  of  the  colonel's  friends 
supposed  that  he  was  busy  planning  some 
new  business  adventure,  in  which  he  might 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    219 

employ  his  surplus  capital  and  his  un 
doubted  business  abilities.  Because  of  the 
recent  calamity,  and  the  hardships  of  the 
employees  in  connection  with  their  strike, 
he  thought  it  unwise  to  make  public  men 
tion  of  his  future  projects. 

The  more  Gertrude  meditated  upon  her 
father's  plan,  the  more  dissatisfied  with 
herself  she  became.  The  idea  of  going  to 
Europe  and  leaving  George  behind  was 
unendurable.  He  needed  rest  more  than 
she.  True,  he  was  to  follow  later,  but  she 
wanted  him  to  cross  the  ocean  on  the 
same  steamer,  and  she  earnestly  desired 
that  the  one  she  loved  best  should  share 
all  of  her  enjoyments.  It  was,  perhaps,  a 
test  of  her  love  that  she  constantly  longed 
to  lose  herself  in  him,  or  better,  possibly, 
to  find  herself  in  him. 

Two  days  before  the  date  fixed  for  their 
sailing,  as  George  left  the  Harris  home, 
Gertrude  was  urging  him  to  accompany  her 
and  her  father,  when  he  ventured  to  say, 
"Gertrude,  this  is  what  would  please  me 
immensely,  take  my  sister  May  with  you. 
I  will  gladly  pay  her  expenses.  And  when 
your  summer's  travel  is  over,  I  want  May 
to  study  music  abroad." 

"Capital!"  said  Gertrude.  "Both  you 
and  your  sister  May  shall  join  our  party. 


220    The  Harris-lngram  Experiment 

Please  don't  say  another  word  on  the 
subject,  nor  tell  father,  till  we  meet  to 
morrow  evening,''  and  she  kissed  him  an 
affectionate  good-night. 

The  next  evening  before  the  stars  shone, 
Gertrude  sat  on  the  piazza  anxiously 
awaiting  him,  for  she  had  good  news  for 
her  lover.  Gertrude's  white  handkerchief 
told  him  that  she  recognized  his  coming, 
though  he  was  still  two  blocks  away.  How 
light  and  swift  the  steps  of  a  lover;  though 
miles  intervene,  they  seem  but  a  step.  An 
evening  in  Gertrude's  presence  was  for 
George  but  a  moment.  The  touch  of  her 
hand,  the  rustle  of  her  dress,  and  the 
music  of  her  voice,  all,  like  invisible  silken 
cords,  held  him  a  willing  prisoner.  The 
love  he  gave  and  the  love  he  received  was 
like  the  mating  of  birds;  like  the  meeting 
of  long  separated  and  finally  united  souls. 

"George,  this  is  your  birthday  and  the 
silver  crescent  moon  is  filled  to  the  brim 
with  happiness  for  you  and  May.  Yester 
day  I  had  a  long  talk  with  father,  and 
I  asked  him  to  let  me  stay  at  home  and 
to  take  your  sister  May  to  Europe.  What 
do  you  think  he  said,  George!  Never  did 
my  father  so  correctly  read  my  heart.  He 
drew  me  closely  to  him,  and  while  I  sat 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    221 

upon  his  knee,  said:  'Daughter,  I  have 
decided  that  it  is  wise,  even  in  the  inter 
ests  of  my  business,  to  take  George  with 
us. '  He  also  said  that  I  might  invite  your 
sister  May  to  go,  and  that  he  would  pay 
all  the  expenses.  Oh,  how  I  kissed  him! 
I  never  loved  my  father  so  much  before. 
Here,  George,  is  a  kiss  for  you.  Aren't 
you  glad  now,  that  you,  and  your  sister 
May  are  going  with  us?  No  excuses,  for 
you  are  both  going  surely. " 

"If  it  is  settled,  Gertrude,  then  it  is 
settled,  I  suppose,  but  how  do  you  think 
May  and  I  can  get  ready  in  so  short  a 
time  to  go  to  Europe  ?" 

"Well,  George,  you  can  wear  your  new 
business  suit,  and  in  the  morning,  I  will 
go  with  May  and  buy  for  her  a  suitable 
travelling  dress  and  hat.  In  Europe  we 
can  procure  more  clothes  as  they  are 
needed. ' ' 

Gertrude  was  now  very  happy.  The 
dream  of  her  life  was  to  be  realized.  She 
wanted  George  near  her  as  she  traveled,  so 
each  could  say  to  the  other,  "Isn't  it  beau 
tiful  1"  That  is  half  of  the  pleasure  of 
sight-seeing.  The  small  orange  kept  by 
Gertrude  had  doubled  in  size,  and  she 
never  before  retired  with  so  sweet  a  joy 


222    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

in  her  soul.  That  night  she  slept,  and  her 
dreams  were  of  smooth  seas,  her  mother, 
Lucille,  and  George. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  May  Ingram 
was  overjoyed.  She  had  been  fond  of  music 
from  her  childhood,  and  had  given  promise 
of  rare  talents.  She  had  taken  lessons  for 
two  years  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music 
in  the  best  conservatories  in  Boston, 
George  paying  most  of  her  expenses.  For 
six  years  May  had  been  the  soprano  singer 
in  the  highest  paid  quartette  in  Harris- 
ville.  Though  she  occasionally  hoped  for 
a  musical  education  abroad,  yet  these 
hopes  had  all  flown  away.  Her  parents 
could  not  aid  her,  and  she  had  resolved 
not  to  accept  further  assistance  from  her 
generous  brother.  At  first  she  could  not 
believe  what  George  told  her,  but  when 
the  reality  of  her  good  fortune  dawned 
upon  her,  taking  George's  hand  in  both  of 
hers,  she  pressed  it  to  her  lips  and  fell 
upon  his  shoulder,  her  eyes  flooding  with 
tears. 

"Well,  May,"  said  George,  as  he  kissed 
her,  "can  you  get  ready  by  noon  to 
morrow?" 

"Ready  by  noon?  Beady  by  daylight, 
George,  if  necessary. ' ' 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    223 

That  night  was  a  busy,  happy  time  for 
the  Ingrams.  So  much  of  ill-luck  had  come 
to  the  father,  and  so  much  of  household 
drudging  to  the  faithful  mother,  that  work 
and  sacrifice  for  the  children  had  ploughed 
deep  furrows  across  the  faces  of  both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ingram.  Opportunities  for  ad 
vancement  now  opening  for  their  children, 
both  parents  found  the  heavy  burdens 
growing  lighter. 

Before  sunrise  George  and  May  had 
packed  two  small  trunks,  by  ten  o'clock 
Gertrude  and  May  had  made  necessary 
purchases,  and  the  two  o'clock  express 
quickly  bore  the  second  contingent  of  the 
Harris  family  towards  New  York,  which 
was  reached  the  night  before  their 
steamer's  date  of  sailing. 

For  some  reason,  perhaps  because  the 
elements  of  superstition  still  lurked  in 
the  mind  of  Colonel  Harris,  he  decided  not 
to  stop  any  more  at  the  Hotel  Waldorf. 
It  had  brought  him  ill-luck,  so  his  party 
was  driven  to  the  tall  Hotel  Piazza  which 
overlooks  the  Central  Park. 

Fortunately  George  had  inherited  a 
talent  for  untiring  investigation  and  the 
power  of  close  observation.  His  reasoning 
faculties  also  were  excellent.  Besides  his 


224    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

education,  gained  in  a  practical  school 
at  Troy,  George,  with,  his  father,  James 
Ingram,  had  made  many  experiments, 
mostly  after  business  hours;  each  ex 
periment  was  numbered  and  the  various 
results  had  been  carefully  noted.  Before 
leaving  Harrisville  his  investigations  were 
all  drifting  towards  great  possible  changes 
in  the  production  of  iron  and  steel.  He 
was  glad  to  take  this  trip  to  Europe,  as 
it  might  afford  him  opportunity  to  verify 
or  change  some  of  his  conclusions.  He 
resolved  to  use  every  moment  for  the 
enlargement  of  his  powers. 

After  bidding  May  and  Gertrude  good 
night,  he  told  the  colonel  that  he  should 
now  take  the  Elevated  Railway  for  the 
steamer  "Campania,"  as  he  wished  to 
observe  at  midnight  the  firing  of  the  great 
battery  of  boilers  of  the  steamer ;  and  that 
he  would  return  in  time  for  breakfast  with 
the  party.  "Let  eight  o'clock  then  be  the 
hour,  George,"  and  the  capitalist  and  his 
trusted  superintendent  separated  for  the 
night. 

The  elevated  railway  was  not  swift 
enough  to  carry  George  Ingrain  to  Pier 
No.  40,  so  anxious  was  he  to  see  the  mid 
night  fires  started  in  the  hundred  furnaces 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    225 

of  one  of  the  two  largest  steamers  afloat. 
It  was  fifteen  minutes  to  twelve  o'clock 
when  he  reached  the  dock,  and  provided 
with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  chief 
engineer,  he  hurried  as  fast  as  possible 
to  the  officer's  cabin. 

The  young  engineer's  night  ashore  had 
been  spent  at  the  opera,  and,  advised  of 
George  Ingram 's  visit,  he  had  promptly 
returned  to  the  steamer.  Mr.  Carl  Siemens, 
engineer,  was  a  relative  of  Siemens 
Brothers  &  Co.,  Limited,  the  great  elec 
trical  and  telegraph  engineers  of  London. 
His  education  had  been  thorough,  and  he 
was  very  proud  of  his  steamer  the  "  Cam 
pania,"  especially  of  the  motive  power, 
which  he  helped  to  design.  He  gave  young 
Ingram  a  cordial  greeting. 

For  two  hours  they  examined  and  talked 
of  mechanism  for  ships  and  mills,  and  they 
even  ventured  to  guess  what  the  earth's 
motive  power  might  be.  It  was  now  five 
minutes  of  midnight.  The  chief  furnished 
Ingram  an  oversuit  and  the  young  engi 
neers  dropped  through  manholes  and 
down  vertical  and  spiral  ladders  into  the 
cellar  of  the  steamer,  the  bottom  of  which 
was  thirty  feet  below  the  water  level. 

"The  ' Campania,'  "  said  Siemens,  "has 


226    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

a  strong  double  bottom  that  forms  a  series 
of  water-tight  compartments  which,  filled 
with  water,  furnish  ballast  when  necessary. 
On  the  second  steel  or  false  bottom  of  the 
steamer,  fore  and  aft,  are  located  the 
boilers,  furnaces,  and  coal-bunkers.  We 
have  fourteen  double-ended  boilers,  fitted 
longitudinally  in  two  groups,  in  two 
water-tight  compartments,  and  separated 
by  huge  coal-bunkers.  Each  boiler  is 
eighteen  feet  in  diameter  and  seventeen 
feet  long.  The  thickness  of  the  steel  boiler 
plate  is  1 17/32  inches.  Above  each  group 
of  boilers  rises  130  feet  in  height  a  funnel 
nineteen  feet  in  diameter,  which,  if  a 
tunnel,  would  easily  admit  the  passage  of 
two  railway  trains  abreast." 

George  saw  the  fires  lighted,  and  when 
the  furnaces  required  more  coal,  suddenly 
a  whistle  brought  fifty  stokers  or  firemen, 
the  automatic  furnace  doors  flew  open,  and 
a  gleam  of  light  flooded  everything.  Long 
lances  made  draft-holes  in  the  banks  of 
burning  coal,  through  which  the  air  was 
sucked  with  increasing  roar.  The  round, 
red  mouths  of  the  hundred  craters  snapped 
their  jaws  for  coal,  which  was  fed  them 
by  brawny  men  whose  faces  were  streaked 
with  grimy  perspiration,  and  their  bodies 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    227 

almost  overcome  by  heat.  The  hundred 
furnaces  are  kept  at  almost  white  heat 
from  New  York  to  Liverpool. 

"Four  hours  on,  and  four  hours  off,  and 
the  best  quality  of  food  are  some  of  the 
recent  improvements, ' '  said  Siemens. 

George  Ingram  shook  his  head,  and  his 
heart  ached  as  he  witnessed  the  stokers, 
and  resolved  to  do  his  utmost  to  mitigate 
the  hardships  of  labor.  "What  are  the 
duties  of  the  stokers?"  inquired  George. 

"Our  stokers,"  replied  Siemens,  "must 
be  men  of  strength  and  skill,  for  they  both 
feed  and  rake  the  fires.  The  ashes  and  slag 
must  be  hoisted  and  dumped  into  the  ocean, 
and  twice  an  hour,  as  the  gauges  indicate, 
fresh  water  is  let  into  the  boilers.  Daily 
the  boilers  convert  into  steam  over  a  hun 
dred  tons  of  water,  which,  condensed,  is 
used  over  and  over  again." 

"What  quantity  of  coal  do  you  use?" 

"About  three  hundred  tons  per  day,  or 
an  average  of  nearly  two  thousand  tons 
per  voyage.  The  coal  carrying  capacity  of 
the  "Campania,"  however,  when  needed 
as  an  armed  cruiser,  can  be  greatly  in 
creased.  ' ' 

Siemens  led  Ingrain  to  see  the  gigantic 
cranks,  and  propeller  shafts.  Each  of  the 


228    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

several  cranks  is  twenty-six  inches  in  diam 
eter  and  weighs  110  tons ;  the  shafts  made 
of  toughest  steel  are  each  twenty-four 
inches  in  diameter,  and  each  weighs  over 
150  tons.  The  propellers  are  made  of  steel 
and  bronze,  and  each  of  the  six  blades  of 
the  two  screws  weighs  eight  tons.  It  was 
now  past  two  o'clock  and  George  thanked 
Mr.  Siemens  and  said  he  should  be  pleased 
to  examine  further  his  department  when 
at  sea.  It  was  past  three  o'clock  when 
George  turned  off  his  gas  at  the  hotel. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning  the 
Harrises  met  promptly  at  breakfast. 
Promptness  was  one  of  Eeuben  Harris's 
virtues,  and  fortunately  all  his  party  were 
agreed  as  to  its  absolute  necessity,  espe 
cially  when  several  journey  together,  if 
the  happiness  of  all  is  considered. 

"George's  eyes  look  like  burnt  holes," 
whispered  May  to  Gertrude. 

Overhearing  his  sister's  remark,  George 
added:  "Yes,  May,  and  they  feel  worse 
after  my  two  hours  last  night  in  the  stoke 
hole  of  the  ' Campania.'  ' 

"We  thought  after  our  long  railway 
ride  and  the  concert  yesterday,  that  you 
would  gladly  welcome  a  little  sleep,"  said 
Gertrude. 


Col.  Harris  Follows  his  Family    229 

"I  did  sleep  four  hours,  Gertrude,  but 
my  owl-visit  to  the  steamer  was  highly 
instructive,  and  when  we  get  to  sea,  you 
all  will  be  delighted  to  help  me  complete 
the  study  of  the  marine  engines  on  the 
' Campania.'  " 


CHAPTER  XV 

A  SAFE  PASSAGE  AND  A  HAPPY  REUNION 

GERTRUDE  and  May  never  knew  what  hap 
piness  was  before.  One  maiden  had  her 
lover,  and  the  heart  of  the  other  was 
pledged  to  music.  George  too  was  happy 
in  Gertrude's  happiness  and  joyous  in 
his  own  thoughts  that  perhaps  he  had 
already  entered  upon  his  life  work,  the 
development  of  plans  which  would  bless 
humanity.  Colonel  Harris's  chief  joy  was 
that  he  had  earned  a  rest,  was  soon  to 
see  the  absent  members  of  his  family,  and 
to  behold  the  work  of  men  in  Europe. 

People  crowded  the  gangway,  the  same  as 
on  a  previous  occasion  when  duty  forced 
him  suddenly  to  leave  the  "Majestic." 
It  was  almost  two  o'clock;  visitors  were 
no  longer  admitted  to  the  steamer,  except 
messengers  with  belated  telegrams,  mail, 
packages,  and  flowers  for  the  travelers.  On 
the  bridge  of  the "Camipania"  stood  the 
uniformed  captain  and  junior  officers.  The 
chief  officer  was  at  the  bow,  the  second 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  231 

officer  aft.  The  captain,  notified  that  all 
was  ready,  gave  the  command,  "Let  go!" 
and  the  cables  were  unfastened.  The 
engineer  started  the  baby-engine,  which 
partially  opens  the  great  throttle-valves, 
the  twin-screws  began  to  revolve,  and  the 
"Campania,"  like  an  awakened  leviathan 
slowly  moved  into  the  Hudson  Eiver.  Hun 
dreds  on  both  the  pier  and  steamer  flut 
tered  their  handkerchiefs,  and  through  a 
mist  of  tears  good-byes  were  exchanged, 
till  the  increasing  distance  separated  the 
dearest  of  friends. 

For  twenty-four  hours  George  Ingram 
was  seen  but  little  on  deck.  Most  of  his 
time  he  spent  with  Carl  Siemen,  the  engi 
neer.  The  colonel  took  great  delight  as 
the  escort  of  two  appreciative  young 
ladies.  Before  the  voyage  ended  every 
available  part  of  the  "Campania"  was  ex 
plored. 

Gertrude  was  surprised  to  find  an  engi 
neer  so  cultivated  a  gentleman.  He  was 
surrounded  in  his  oak-furnished  office  by 
soft  couches,  easy  chairs,  works  of  art, 
burnished  indicators  and  dials.  Mr.  Siemen 
received  his  orders  from  the  captain  or 
officer  on  the  bridge  by  telegraph. 

"It's  mere  child's  play, "said  May, "and 


232    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

as  easy  as  touching  the  keys  of  a  great 
organ." 

Mr.  Siemen  now  conducted  his  friends 
into  the  engine-room.  "It  is  not  easy  to 
imagine  the  tremendous  force  of  the  two 
swiftly  turning  screws  or  propellers  ex 
erted  against  the  surging  waters  of  the 
Atlantic, "  he  said.  "Our  30,000  horse 
power  engines,  a  horse  power  is  equal  to 
six  men,  equal  180,000  strong  men  pulling 
at  the  oars,  or  twice  the  number  of  men 
that  fought  at  Gettysburg  to  perpetuate 
the  American  Union. ' ' 

"Wonderful!"  said  Colonel  Harris. 

"Steam  guided  by  command  of  the  offi 
cer  on  the  bridge,  with  slightest  effort, 
also  steers  our  immense  steamer. ' ' 

"Mr.  Siemen,  tell  us  please  how  the 
steamer  is  lighted?"  said  George. 

"We  have  fifty  miles  of  insulated  wire 
in  the  "Campania"  for  the  electric  current 
generated  by  our  two  dynamos,  which 
give  us  1350  sixteen-candle  power  lights, 
equal  to  a  total  of  22,000  candle  power, 
absorbing  135  horse-power.  We  also  use 
large  electric  reflectors  and  search  lights 
to  pick  up  buoys  on  a  dark  night.  All  our 
machinery  is  in  duplicate. 

"At  night  when  the  broad  clean  decks 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  233 

of  hardwood  are  illuminated  with  electric 
lights  and  filled  with  gay  promenaders, 
you  easily  imagine  that  you  are  strolling 
along  Broadway." 

The  accommodations  and  appointments 
of  staterooms,  of  all  the  large  public 
rooms,  and  especially  the  dining-room,  are 
perfect.  A  week  on  the  Atlantic,  with  the 
joyous  bracing  sea-air  of  the  summer 
months,  and  surrounded  as  you  are  by  a 
cosmopolitan  group  of  people,  passes  as 
delightfully  as  a  brief  stay  at  the  ocean 
side. 

The  passage  of  the  "Campania"  from 
Sandy  Hook  Light  to  Queenstown  was 
made  in  less  than  five  and  one-half  days, 
5  days,  10  hours,  and  47  minutes,  or  at  an 
average  speed  of  21.82  knots  per  hour,  the 
highest  day's  run  being  548  knots.  At 
Queenstown  Colonel  Harris  received  tele 
grams  and  letters  from  his  family  saying 
that  they  would  meet  him  at  Leamington, 
and  that  Alfonso  would  meet  his  father  at 
Liverpool. 

Reuben  Harris  wired  his  wife  when  his 
party  expected  to  arrive.  It  was  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  when  the  S.  S.  "  Campania ' ' 
arrived  in  the  Mersey  off  Alexandra  dock, 
and  the  company's  tender  promptly  de- 


234   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

livered  the  passengers  on  the  Liverpool 
Landing  Stage. 

Gertrude  was  first  to  single  out  Alfonso, 
whose  handkerchief  waved  a  brother's 
welcome  to  the  old  world.  Alfonso  was 
the  first  to  cross  the  gangway  to  the  tender, 
and  rushed  to  his  friends.  The  greeting 
was  mutually  cordial.  The  father  embraced 
his  boy,  for  he  loved  him  much  and  still 
cherished  a  secret  hope  that  his  only  son 
might  yet  turn  his  mind  to  business.  Al 
fonso  seemed  specially  pleased  that  George 
and  his  sister  May  had  come,  for  he  had 
frequently  met  May  Ingram  and  her  sing 
ing  had  often  charmed  him. 

May  was  about  his  own  age.  As  Alfonso 
helped  her  down  the  gangway  to  the  deck, 
he  thought  he  had  never  seen  her  look  so 
pretty.  She  was  about  the  size  of  his  sister 
Lucille;  slender,  erect,  and  in  her  move 
ments  she  was  as  graceful  as  the  swaying 
willows.  May's  face  was  oval  like  that  of 
her  English  mother.  She  had  an  abundance 
of  brown  hair,  her  eyes  were  brilliant,  and 
her  complexion,  bronzed  by  the  sea-breezes, 
had  a  pink  under-coloring  that  increased 
her  beauty.  If  Alfonso 's  eyes  were  fixed  on 
her  a  moment  longer  than  custom  allows, 
perhaps  he  was  excusable,  for  portrait 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  235 

painting  was  his  hobby,  and  he  fancied  that 
he  knew  a  beautiful  face. 

Alfonso  was  all  attention  to  his  friends 
in  clearing  the  baggage  through  the  cus 
toms  and  getting  checks  for  Leamington. 
After  lunch,  at  the  fine  railway  hotel,  the 
two  o'clock  express  from  Lime  Street 
station  was  taken,  and  Colonel  Harris  and 
party  became  loud  in  their  praises  of  John 
Bull's  Island,  as  they  sped  on,  via  Coven 
try  with  her  three  tall  spires,  to  the  fash 
ionable  Spa,  where  the  Harris  family  were 
again  to  be  reunited.  It  was  six  o'clock 
when  Alfonso  alighted  on  the  platform. 
"Here  they  are,  mother,  I  have  brought 
them  all;  father,  Gertrude,  George,  and 
May." 

The  Leamington  meeting  was  a  happy 
one.  The  sorrow  of  separation  is  often 
compensated  by  the  joys  of  reunion.  Mrs. 
Harris  embraced  her  husband  as  if  he  had 
returned  a  hero  from  the  wars.  In  fact,  he 
had  emerged  from  a  conflict  that  brought 
neither  peace  nor  honor  to  capital  or  labor. 

Lucille  too  was  enthusiastic.  She,  who 
was  haughty,  rarely  responsive,  and  often 
proud  of  her  father's  wealth,  for  the  time 
assumed  another  character  and  warmly 
welcomed  her  sister  Gertrude  and  Ger- 


236    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

trade's  intended  husband  as  "brother 
George."  Leo  too  was  glad  to  make  new 
acquaintances.  Eight  joyous  people  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  many  at  the  station. 

Fortunately,  the  next  day  was  Sunday, 
which  gave  time  for  rest,  for  review  of 
the  past  few  exciting  weeks,  and  for  the 
development  of  future  plans  of  travel. 
Much  was  told  of  the  Harris  trip  through 
Ireland  and  of  the  last  week  spent  in  the 
south  of  England. 

Lucille  described  to  Gertrude  and  May 
Stonehenge,  hanging  stones, — the  wonder 
of  Salisbury  Plain,  where  stand  the  ruins 
of  the  Druid  temple — three  circles  of  up 
right  moss-grown  stones  with  flat  slabs 
across  their  tops,  in  which  it  is  supposed 
the  sun  was  worshiped  with  human  sacri 
fices.  Many  burial  mounds  are  scattered 
about.  A  broad  driveway,  a  mile  in  extent, 
surrounds  the  temple,  where  possibly  great 
processions  came  to  witness  the  gorgeous 
displays.  In  early  Britain  the  Druid  priests 
held  absolute  sway  over  the  destinies  of 
souls.  These  priests  were  finally  over 
powered  by  the  Romans,  and  some  of  them 
burned  upon  their  own  altars. 

"But,  Lucille,  you  wrote  that  you 
planned  to  visit  Osborne  House." 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  237 

"Yes,  dear,  we  did  go  to  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  and  saw  Osborne  House,  Queen 
Victoria's  home  by  the  sea,  as  Balmoral 
is  her  summer  home  among  the  mountains 
of  Scotland.  Her  Majesty's  palace  is  sur 
rounded  by  terraced  gardens,  nearly  five 
thousand  acres  of  forests,  pastures,  and 
fertile  meadows.  Osborne  House  is  fur 
nished  with  much  magnificence,  mosaic 
flooring,  costly  marbles,  statuary,  paint 
ings,  books,  and  art  souvenirs. 

"There  the  queen  and  Prince  Albert 
painted,  sang,  and  read  together.  Those 
were  happy  days  indeed  for  the  young 
rulers  of  a  kingdom.  Each  of  their  children 
had  a  garden.  The  Prince  of  Wales  worked 
in  a  carpenter's  shop,  and  the  royal  prin 
cesses  learned  housework  in  a  kitchen  and 
dairy  prepared  for  them."  This  was  a 
revelation  to  Lucille,  who  had  been  reared 
with  little  or  nothing  to  do. 

Lucille  told  Gertrude  and  May  that  she 
had  just  been  reading  the  early  life  of  the 
queen,  who  said,  "If  one's  home  is  happy, 
then  trials  and  vexations  are  compara 
tively  nothing."  The  queen  also  said. 
"Children  should  be  brought  up  simply 
and  learn  to  put  the  greatest  confidence 
in  their  parents."  Lucille  continued,  "The 


238    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

queen  often  visited  her  people,  bringing 
toys  for  the  children — a  promise  to  a  child 
she  never  forgets — and  gifts  of  warm 
clothing  for  the  aged,  to  their  great  de 
light." 

At  a  conference  of  the  Harris  family,  it 
was  decided  to  go  to  London  after  spend 
ing  Monday  in  a  carriage  drive  to  Warwick 
and  Kenilworth  castles  and  Stratford-on- 
Avon.  So  Monday  promptly  at  eight  o  'clock 
two  carriages  stood  waiting  at  the  hotel. 
Colonel  Harris  took  Mrs.  Harris,  May  In 
gram,  and  Alfonso  with  him,  and  George 
Ingram  took  Gertrude,  Lucille,  and  Leo  in 
the  second  carriage. 

There  are  few,  if  any,  more  magnificent 
drives  in  England  than  the  one  through 
the  beautiful  Stratford  district.  It  is  re 
corded  that  two  Englishmen  once  laid  a 
wager  as  to  the  finest  walk  in  England. 
One  named  the  walk  from  Coventry  to 
Stratford,  the  other  from  Stratford  to 
Coventry. 

It  was  a  delightful  day  and  both  the 
colonel  and  George  entirely  forgot  bus 
iness  in  their  enjoyment  of  the  loveliest 
country  they  had  ever  seen,  A  drive  of 
two  miles,  from  Leamington  and  along 
the  banks  of  the  historic  Avon,  brought 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  239 

them  to  Warwick  Castle  which  Scott  calls 
"The  fairest  monument  of  ancient  and 
chivalrous  splendor  uninjured  by  the  tooth 
of  time."  It  is  said  that  Warwick  Castle 
was  never  taken  by  any  foe  in  days  gone 

by. 

Our  visitors  drove  over  the  draw-bridge 
through  a  gateway  covered  with  ivy,  and 
still  guarded  as  of  old,  by  an  ancient 
portcullis.  In  the  hall  of  the  castle,  pan- 
nelled  with  richly  carved  oak,  are  relig 
iously  guarded  the  helmet  of  Cromwell, 
the  armor  of  the  Black  Prince,  and  many 
historic  relics  and  art  treasures.  The 
drawing-room  is  finished  in  cedar.  In 
former  days  guests  were  summoned  to  the 
great  banqueting  hall  by  a  blare  of  trum 
pets.  In  the  gardens  is  seen  the  celebrated 
white  marble  Warwick  vase  from  Adrian's 
villa.  Interwoven  vines  form  the  handles, 
and  leaves  and  grapes  adorn  the  margin  of 
the  vase.  Superb  views  were  had  from  the 
castle  towers.  In  the  Beauchamp  chapel 
in  the  old  town  of  Warwick  repose  the 
remains  of  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester,  one 
of  Queen  Elizabeth's  favorites.  She  gave 
Leicester  beautiful  Kenil  worth  Castle, 
which  is  five  miles  distant. 

As  the  carriages  drove  over  the  smooth 


240   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

road,  beneath  the  venerable  elms  and 
sycamores,  artists  along  the  way  were 
sketching.  Both  Alfonso  and  Leo  tipped 
their  hats,  as  members  of  a  guild  that 
recognizes  art  for  art's  sake,  a  society  that 
takes  cognizance  of  neither  nationality  nor 
sect. 

Gertrude  and  George  had  read  Scott's 
novel  in  which  he  tells  of  the  ancient 
glories  of  Kenilworth,  which  dates  back 
to  the  twelfth  century,  and  today  is  con 
sidered  the  most  beautiful  ruin  in  the 
world.  Ivy  mantles  the  lofty  ruined  walls ; 
the  sun  tinges  in  silver  the  gray  old 
towers,  and  sends  a  flood  of  golden  light 
through  the  deep  windows  of  the  once 
magnificent  banqueting  hall. 

For  years  Kenilworth  Castle  was  a 
royal  residence,  and  later  it  was  the  scene 
of  bloody  conflicts  between  kings  and 
nobles.  Today  sheep  peacefully  graze  with 
in  the  ruins  and  about  the  grounds.  Visit 
ors  from  all  parts  of  the  world  look  in  won 
der  upon  the  decay  of  glories  that  once 
dazzled  all  Europe.  Here  the  earl  of 
Leicester  entertained  his  virgin  queen 
hoping  to  marry  her.  As  Elizabeth  crossed 
the  drawbridge  a  song  in  her  praise  was 
sung  by  a  Lady  of  the  Lake  on  an  island 
floating  in  the  moat.  Story  writers  have 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  241 

never  tired  of  telling  of  the  magnificence 
of  these  entertainments  that  cost  the  am 
bitious  earl  $20,000  per  day  for  nineteen 
days. 

Returning,  Warwick  Arms  Hotel  was 
reached  for  lunch,  after  which  the  party 
drove  eight  miles  to  Stratford-on-Avon,  a 
model  town  on  the  classic  Avon.  Here  in 
Henley  Street,  in  a  half-timbered  house  re 
cently  carefully  restored,  Shakespeare  was 
born.  The  walls  and  window  panes  are  cov 
ered  with  the  names  of  visitors,  while  in 
side  are  kept  albums  for  the  autographs  of 
kings,  queens,  of  Scott,  Byron,  Irving,  and 
others.  One  of  the  three  rooms  below  is 
an  ancient  kitchen,  where  by  the  big  open 
chimney  the  poet  often  sat.  Climbing  a 
winding,  wooden  stairway,  George  and 
Gertrude  in  the  lead,  our  Harrisville 
friends  entered  the  old-fashioned  chamber, 
where,  it  is  said,  on  St.  George's  Day, 
April  19,  1564,  William  Shakespeare  was 
born.  A  bust  of  the  poet  stands  on  the  table. 

"We  know  little  of  his  mother,"  said 
Gertrude,  "except  that  she  had  a  beautiful 
name,  Mary  Arden.  If  it  is  true,  as  a  rule, 
that  all  great  men  have  had  great  mothers, 
Mary  Arden  must  have  been  a  very  supe 
rior  woman. ' ' 

' '  The  reverse,  Gertrude,  must  be  equally 


242    The  Harris -Ingram  Experiment 

true,"  said  George,  "that  all  great  women 
must  have  had  great  fathers." 

Gertrude  who  had  made  a  special  study 
of  Shakespeare  and  his  works  did  much  of 
the  talking.  She  said, '  '  All  that  is  definitely 
known  of  the  life  of  the  great  poet  can  be 
put  on  half  a  page.  It  is  thought  that 
William  was  the  son  of  a  well-to-do  farmer 
who  lost  his  property.  William,  not  above 
work,  assisted  his  father  as  butcher,  then 
taught  school,  and  later  served  as  a  law 
yer's  clerk.  When  he  was  eighteen,  like 
most  young  people,  he  fell  in  love." 

Saying  this,  Gertrude  led  to  the  street, 
and  the  party  drove  to  Shottery,  a  pretty 
village  a  mile  away,  where  is  Ann  Hatha 
way 's  thatched  cottage.  "Here  the  beard 
less  William  often  came,"  said  Gertrude, 
"and  told  his  love  to  the  English  maiden. 
Ann  Hathaway  was  older  than  William, 
she  was  twenty-six,  but  they  were  married, 
and  had  three  children. 

"When  Shakespeare  was  twenty-five  he 
was  part  owner  of  the  Blackfriar  's  Theatre 
in  London.  There  he  spent  his  literary  life, 
and  there  he  was  actor,  dramatist,  and 
manager.  He  became  rich  and  returned 
occasionally  to  Stratford  where  he  bought 
lands  and  built  houses. 


Safe  Passage  and  Happy  Reunion  243 

"If  we  can  trust  statues  and  paintings 
and  writers,  William  Shakespeare  had  a 
kingly  physique,  light  hazel  eyes  and 
auburn  hair." 

"What  about  his  death  ?"  inquired 
Colonel  Harris. 

"Of  his  death, "  said  Gertrude,  "we 
know  little,  save  that  the  Vicar  of  Strat 
ford  wrote  that  Shakespeare,  Drayton,  and 
Ben  Johnson  had  a  merry  meeting,  pos 
sibly  drank  too  much,  and  that  Shakespeare 
died  of  a  fever  then  contracted,  on  the 
anniversary  of  his  birth,  when  he  was  fifty- 
two  years  old." 

"And  where  was  he  buried?"  inquired 
Lucille. 

"In  the  Stratford  church,"  answered 
Gertrude,  and  the  carriages  were  driven 
up  an  avenue  of  arching  lime  trees.  The 
old  church,  with  its  tall  and  graceful  spire, 
reflected  in  the  waters  of  the  Avon,  is  a 
restful  place  for  the  body  that  contains  the 
mightiest  voice  in  literature.  Near  by  also 
lie  buried  his  wife  and  their  children.  A 
plain  slab  in  the  floor  covers  his  remains. 

Recently  a  new  grave  was  dug  near 
Shakespeare's  and  the  intervening  wall 
fell  in.  A  workman  ventured  to  hold  a 
lighted  taper  in  death's  chamber,  which 


244   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

revealed  that  the  ashes  of  the  immortal 
Shakespeare  could  be  held  in  the  palm  of 
the  hand.  The  Harris  party  drove  back  to 
Leamington  to  spend  the  night. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A   SEARCH   FOB  IDEAS 

LATER  on  the  Harrises  spent  considerable 
time  in  London  staying  at  the  Grand  Hotel 
which  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  North 
umberland  House  on  Trafalgar  Square. 
They  soon  learned  that  the  English  ma 
trons  are  devoted  mothers,  that  they  take 
long  walks,  dress  their  children  simply, 
and  that  their  daughters  have  fair  com 
plexions,  are  modest  in  manner,  and  are 
the  pictures  of  health. 

Many  of  the  English  women  find  time 
to  study  national  questions,  to  organize 
" Primrose "  and  "Liberal  Leagues, "  and 
to  vote  on  municipal  affairs.  Miss  Helen 
Taylor  and  other  cultivated  women  have 
been  elected  members  of  the  London 
school  board,  and  aided  in  temperance 
reform. 

While  Alfonso,  Leo,  Lucille,  and  May 
were  absent  studying  the  artistic  life  of 
the  metropolis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris,  Ger 
trude,  and  George  spent  most  of  the  day 


246    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

planning  for  the  future.  Reuben  Harris  and 
his  wife  had  repeatedly  talked  over  the 
Harrisville  affair,  and  their  trips  in  Lon 
don  where  so  many  generations  had  lived 
and  passed  away  had  given  both  clearer 
ideas  of  life. 

"At  best,"  thought  the  colonel,  "life 
seems  short  indeed."  More  than  once  he 
admitted  to  his  wife  that  his  early  priva 
tions  had  made  his  life  in  Harrisville 
selfish  and  inconsiderate,  that  the  questions 
of  higher  civilization  were  involved  in  the 
vigorous  efforts  of  humanity  for  a  closer 
brotherhood,  and  that  if  God  permitted  him 
he  would  lend  a  helping  hand. 

Mrs.  Harris,  naturally  proud,  was  slow 
to  respond  to  the  colonel's  new  ideas,  but 
he  felt  that  under  Gertrude's  generous 
influences  his  wife  would  prove  a  help 
rather  than  a  hindrance.  Mrs.  Harris 
knew  that  Gertrude  and  George,  who  had 
received  a  broad  education,  were  ambitious 
to  do  good,  and  besides  she  trusted  and 
loved  them  both. 

It  was  clear  to  George  and  Gertrude  that 
little  or  no  hindrance  would  be  offered 
to  wise  plans  of  usefulness.  It  was  finally 
agreed  that  Colonel  Harris  and  George 
should  spend  a  week  or  two  visiting  some 


A  Search  for  Ideas  247 

of  the  great  industrial  centers  of  Europe, 
and  that  Alfonso  and  Leo  should  accom 
pany  the  ladies  to  Paris,  and  then  visit 
the  haunts  of  the  old  portrait  painters  of 
the  Netherlands. 

It  was  also  decided  by  George  and  Ger 
trude  that  they  would  be  married  in  Paris. 
This  made  the  two  lovers  happy;  for  soon 
the  two  diamonds  and  ruby  would  be  ad 
vanced  to  the  ring  finger,  as  promised  by 
Gertrude  on  Mt.  Holyoke.  Each  felt  that 
an  inexpensive  marriage  in  Paris  would 
be  a  fortunate  escape  from  possible  crit 
icisms  at  home.  Colonel  Harris  had  prom 
ised  Gertrude  a  special  gift  of  a  thousand 
dollars  for  the  approaching  nuptials,  she 
to  do  what  she  desired  with  the  money.  So 
she  decided  to  use  only  one-fourth  of  the 
gift  for  herself,  to  send  one-half  of  it  to 
the  Relief  Society,  and  the  balance  to  two 
ladies7  benevolent  societies  of  Harrisville. 

The  discussion  of  these  plans  made  the 
last  night  in  London  a  happy  one.  Happi 
ness  comes  when  we  warm  the  hearts  near 
us.  When  selfishness  leaves  the  heart,  the 
dove  of  peace  enters.  Early  next  morning 
at  the  Victoria  Station,  Colonel  Harris  and 
George  saw  their  friends  off  for  Paris. 
The  route  taken  was  the  one  via  the  Lon- 


248    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

don,  Chatham  &  Dover  Bailway,  an  hour's 
run  to  Dover,  thence  in  the  twin  steamer 
"Calais-Dover,"  an  hour  and  a  half's 
ride  across  the  English  Channel  to  Calais, 
and  from  Calais  via  railway  to  Paris,  capi 
tal  of  the  French  Eepublic. 

Then  Eeuben  Harris  and  George  Ingram 
left  Victoria  Station  to  pay  their  respects 
to  Henry  Bessemer,  civil  engineer,  who 
lived  at  Denmark  Hill  south  of  London, 
They  desired  to  study  the  conditions  which 
make  the  British  people  powerful.  Both 
were  aware  that  England  was  richly  stored 
with  the  most  serviceable  of  all  minerals, 
coal  and  iron,  in  convenient  proximity; 
that  her  large  flocks  of  sheep  supplied  both 
wool  and  leather;  that  Ireland  had  been 
encouraged  in  the  cultivation  of  flax;  that 
the  convenience  of  intercourse  between 
mother  country  and  her  neighbors,  espec 
ially  America,  had  enabled  England  to 
engage  largely  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
three  textile  staples,  wool,  flax,  and  cotton. 
But  material  resources  are  only  one  ele 
ment  in  great  industrial  successes.  Both 
labor  and  capital  are  equally  essential. 

Englishmen  have  strength  and  skill.  In 
delicate  and  artistic  manipulation,  how 
ever,  the  Englishman  may  be  surpassed, 


A  Search  for  Ideas  249 

but  he  possesses  in  a  rare  degree  great 
capacity  for  physical  application  to  work, 
also  tremendous  mental  energy  and  perse 
verance.  Most  of  the  world's  valuable  and 
great  inventions,  as  successfully  applied  to 
the  leading  industries,  were  made  by  the 
English. 

Though  England  has  neither  gold  nor  sil 
ver  mines,  yet  for  centuries  she  has  com 
manded  vast  capital.  Her  trading  enter 
prise,  which  has  made  the  Englishman 
conspicuous  round  the  world,  existed  long 
before  the  Norman  conquest.  Helpful  and 
consistent  legislation  has  also  favored 
British  industries.  Besides,  England  en 
joyed  a  good  start  in  the  race  with  for 
eigners.  Surplus  English  capital  of  late 
has  been  employed  in  promoting  foreign 
industry,  and  the  interests  of  England  as 
a  rival  may  suffer. 

Beaching  the  station  at  Denmark  Hill, 
the  colonel  and  George  drove  at  once  to 
Bessemer 's  home.  It  is  doubtful  if  England 
has  forty  acres,  owned  by  a  private  citizen, 
more  tastefully  laid  out  and  adorned,  with 
forests,  lawns,  and  flowers. 

Henry  Bessemer  was  tall  and  well 
formed,  and  looked  the  ideal  Englishman, 
as  he  gave  cordial  welcome,  in  his  large 


250   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

drawing  room,  to  Colonel  Harris  and 
George  Ingram.  Evidences  of  his  construc 
tive  skill  and  exquisite  taste  were  seen  on 
every  hand,  notably  in  his  billiard  room, 
conservatory,  and  astronomical  observa 
tory.  The  last  contained  a  reflector  tele 
scope  of  his  own  design,  that  rivals  the 
world-famed  telescope  of  Lord  Rosse.  Both 
were  soon  charmed  with  Bessemer 's  man 
ners  and  conversation. 

George  had  read  of  this  wonderful 
man  who  was  born  in  1813;  between  1838 
and  1875  he  had  taken  out  113  patents,  and 
the  drawings  of  his  own  work  made  seven 
thick  volumes.  This  record  of  Bessemer 
indicates  an  almost  unrivalled  degree  of 
mental  activity  and  versatility  as  keen 
observer,  original  thinker,  and  clever  in 
ventor. 

His  drawings  showed  patents  in  con 
nection  with  improvements  in  engines, 
cars,  wheels,  axles,  tires,  brakes,  and  rails. 
Fifteen  patents  for  improvements  in  sugar 
manufacture,  patents  for  motors  and  hy 
draulic  apparatus,  for  the  manufacture  of 
iron  and  steel,  the  shaping,  embossing, 
shearing,  and  cutting  of  metals,  for  marine 
artillery,  ordnance,  projectiles,  ammuni 
tion,  armor  plates,  screw  propellers, 


A  Search  for  Ideas  251 

anchors,  silvering  glass,  casting  of  type, 
patents  for  bronze  powder,  gold  paint,  oils, 
varnishes,  asphalt  pavements,  waterproof 
fabrics,  lenses,  etc. 

Mr.  Bessemer 's  greatest  invention,  an 
nounced  to  the  British  Association  at  Chel 
tenham,  in  1856,  is  his  method  of  the  manu 
facture  of  iron  and  steel  without  fuel, 
which  started  a  new  era  in  the  iron  trade. 
His  name  will  be  forever  associated  with 
the  rapid  conversion  of  pig  iron  into 
malleable  iron  and  steel.  By  this  process 
the  price  of  steel  per  ton  has  been  reduced 
from  $160  to  $25,  a  price  less  than  was 
formerly  paid  for  iron.  Mr.  Bessemer  re 
ceived  the  Telford  and  Albert  gold  medals 
and  honors  from  sovereigns  and  societies 
round  the  world. 

George  said  to  Mr.  Bessemer  that  he 
thought  Lord  Palmerston's  definition, 
* '  dirt  was  matter  out  of  place, ' '  was  espec 
ially  applicable  to  the  undesirable  elements 
in  ores. 

"Very  true,"  replied  Mr.  Bessemer, 
"and  the  man  who  can  clean  the  dirt  from 
our  ores,  and  produce  the  most  desirable 
steel,  at  the  least  cost,  is  a  great  benefactor 
of  humanity." 

Mr.  Bessemer 's  own  story  of  his  most 


252    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

important  invention  was  very  interesting. 
Practical  iron  men  had  said  that  it  was 
an  impossible  feat  to  convert  molten  pig 
iron  in  a  few  minutes  into  fluid  malleable 
iron,  and  then  into  available  steel,  and  all 
this  without  additional  fuel.  But  the  genius 
and  perseverance  of  Mr.  Bessemer,  aided 
by  his  practical  knowledge  of  chemistry 
and  mechanics,  did  it.  It  had  long  been 
known  that,  if  a  horseshoe  nail  were  tied 
to  a  cord  and  the  point  heated  to  white 
ness,  the  iron  nail  could  be  made  to  burn 
in  common  air  by  being  whirled  in  a 
circle.  The  ring  of  sparks  proved  a  com 
bustion.  Mr.  Bessemer  was  the  first 
however  to  show  that  if  air  was  forced, 
not  upon  the  surface,  but  into  and  amongst 
the  particles  of  molten  iron,  the  same 
sort  of  combustion  took  place. 

Pig  iron,  which  is  highly  carbonized 
iron  from  the  blast  furnace,  was  labo 
riously  converted  into  malleable  iron  by 
the  old  process  of  the  puddling  furnace. 
Bessemer  conceived  the  process  of  forcing 
air  among  the  particles  of  molten  iron, 
and  by  a  single  operation,  combining 
the  use  of  air  in  the  double  purpose  of 
increasing  temperature,  and  removing  the 
carbon.  The  carbon  of  the  iron  has  a 


A  Search  for  Ideas 

greater  affinity  for  the  oxygen  of  the  air 
than  for  the  iron.  When  all  the  carbon  is 
removed,  then  exactly  enough  carbon  is 
added  by  introducing  molten  spiegeleisen 
to  produce  steel  of  any  desired  temper 
with  the  utmost  certainty. 

With  the  ordinary  kinds  of  pig  iron 
early  in  use,  Bessemer 's  process  was 
powerless.  The  old  puddling  process  was 
more  capable  of  removing  phosphorus 
and  sulphur.  But  with  pig  iron  produced 
from  the  red  hematite  ores,  practically 
free  from  phosphorus,  Bessemer 's  pro 
cess  was  a  surprising  success. 

At  once  exploration  began  to  open  vast 
fields  of  hematite  ores  in  the  counties  of 
Cumberland  and  Lancashire  of  England, 
in  Spain,  in  the  Lake  Superior  regions  of 
North  America,  and  in  other  countries. 
Bessemer  wisely  made  his  royalty  very 
low,  five  dollars  per  ton;  capital  rapidly 
flowed  into  this  new  industry,  and  Besse 
mer  won  a  fortune.  Mushroom  towns  and 
cities  sprung  up  everywhere  and  fortunes 
were  made  by  many. 

Mr.  Bessemer  himself  vividly  described 
his  process  in  action:  "When  the  molten 
pig  iron  is  poured  into  mortar-like  conver 
ters,  supported  on  trunions  like  a  cannon, 


254   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  process  is  brought  into  full  activity. 
The  blast  is  admitted  through  holes  in  the 
bottom,  when  small  powerful  jets  of  air 
spring  upward  through  the  boiling  fluid 
mass,  and  the  whole  apparatus  trembles 
violently.  Suddenly  a  volcano-like  eruption 
of  flames  and  red-hot  cinders  or  sparks 
occurs.  The  roaring  flames,  rushing  from 
the  mouth  of  the  converter,  changes  its  vio 
let  color  to  orange  and  finally  to  pure  white. 
The  large  sparks  change  to  hissing  points, 
which  gradually  become  specks  of  soft, 
bluish  light  as  the  state  of  malleable  iron 
is  approached." 

This  very  brilliant  process,  which  in 
cludes  the  introduction  and  mixture  of  the 
spiegeleisen,  may  occupy  fifteen  minutes, 
when  the  moulds  are  filled,  and  the  steel 
ingots  can  be  hammered  or  rolled  the  same 
as  blooms  from  a  puddling  furnace. 

Mr.  Bessemer  explained  many  things, 
and  offered  many  valuable  suggestions.  A 
remark  of  Mr.  Bessemer  to  George  Ingram 
led  the  latter  to  tell  Bessemer  a  story  which 
he  heard  in  the  smoking-room  of  the  S. 
S.  "Campania." 

"Two  Irishmen  once  tried  to  sleep,  but 
could  not  for  Jersey  mosquitoes  had  en 
tered  their  bedroom.  Earnest  effort  drove 


A  Search  for  Ideas  255 

the  mosquitoes  out,  and  the  light  was  again 
extinguished.  Soon  Mike  saw  a  luminous 
insect,  a  big  fire-fly  approaching.  Quickly 
he  roused  his  companion  saying,  'Pat, 
wake  up!  Quick!  Let's  be  going!  It's  no 
use  trying  to  get  more  sleep  here,  there 
comes  another  Jersey  mosquito  hunting  us 
with  a  lantern. '  ' ' 

Mr.  Bessemer  was  amused,  and  he  ven 
tured  the  assertion  that  when  electricity 
could  be  as  cheaply  produced  directly  from 
coal  as  the  light  by  the  fire-fly,  and  success 
fully  delivered  in  our  great  cities,  the 
smoke  nuisance  would  be  effectually 
abated,  all  freight  charges  on  coal  would 
be  saved,  and  coal  operators  could  utilize 
all  their  slack  at  the  mines. 

"Do  you  think  this  possible ?"  inquired 
Colonel  Harris. 

t '  Oh,  yes,  quite  possible, ' '  answered  Bes 
semer,  "our  necessities  beget  our  inven 
tions  and  discoveries.  Thorough  investiga 
tion  in  the  near  future  on  this  and  kindred 
lines  must  be  fruitful  of  astonishing  re 
sults  in  the  interests  of  a  higher  civiliza 
tion."  The  colonel  and  George  took  their 
leave.  Truly  the  fire-fly,  like  the  whirling 
hot  nail,  is  suggestive  of  great  possibili 
ties,  thought  George. 


256    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

That  evening  it  was  planned  to  visit  on 
the  morrow  the  extensive  telegraphic 
works  of  Siemens  Brothers  &  Co.,  Limited. 
George  retired  to  sleep,  but  his  mind  was 
never  more  active.  On  warm  summer 
evenings  he  had  often  held  in  his  hand 
glow-worms  and  studied  them  as  they 
emitted  bright  phosphorescent  light.  He 
had  learned  that  this  faculty  was  confined 
to  the  female  which  has  no  wings,  and  that 
the  light  is  supposed  to  serve  as  a  beacon 
to  attract  and  guide  the  male.  The  light 
proceeds  from  the  abdomen,  and  its  inten 
sity  seems  to  vary  at  will.  He  had  also 
read  of  a  winged,  luminous  insect  of  South 
America,  which  emits  very  brilliant  light 
from  various  parts  of  its  body. 

When  George  reflected  that  under  even 
the  most  favorable  conditions  there 
was  realized  in  mechanical  work  of  the 
energy  stored  in  coal  only  10%,  he  was 
convinced  that  the  extravagant  waste  of 
90%  of  energy  was  in  itself  sufficient  argu 
ment  against  the  present  method  as  being 
the  best  possible.  Ever  since  his  gradua 
tion,  he  had  believed  that  the  greatest  of 
all  technical  problems  was  the  production 
of  cheaper  power.  That  it  was  the  great 
desideratum  in  cities  in  the  production  of 


A  Search  for  Ideas  257 

food,  and  in  food  transportation  from 
farms  to  trunk  lines,  on  railways  and  on 
the  ocean. 

While  in  America  he  had  discussed  the 
matter  of  cheaper  power  with  Edison, 
Thompson,  Tesla,  and  others. 

George  and  his  father,  James  Ingram, 
experimenting  with  chemical  energy,  had 
already  discovered  a  galvanic  element 
which  enabled  them  to  furnish  electrical 
energy  direct  from  coal  and  the  oxygen  of 
the  air,  but  this  important  discovery  was 
kept  a  secret.  The  chief  object  of  George 
Ingram 's  visit  abroad  was  to  follow  the 
footsteps  of  other  great  scientists  and 
manufacturers  to  the  edge  or  frontier  of 
their  discoveries  and  practical  workings. 

It  was  two  o'clock  that  night  before 
George  could  close  his  eyes,  but  promptly 
at  6:30  o'clock  next  morning  he  was  ready 
for  his  bath  and  shave,  and  later  he  and 
the  colonel  ate  the  usual  European  break 
fast  of  eggs,  rolls,  and  coffee.  The  eight 
o  'clock  train  was  taken  for  the  great  works 
of  Siemens  Brothers  &  Co.,  Limited, 
which  are  located  at  Woolwich,  down  the 
Thames. 

This  firm,  the  pioneers  of  ship  lighting 
by  electricity,  has  already  fitted  out  hun- 


258    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

dreds  of  vessels  with  electric  lights.  They 
also  manufacture  submarine  and  land 
telegraphs  in  vast  quantities,  having  aided 
largely  in  enclosing  the  globe  in  a  network 
of  cables.  All  the  Siemens  brothers  have 
shown  much  ability.  Charles  William  was 
born  at  Lenthe,  Hanover,  in  1823,  and 
has  received  high  scientific  honors.  The 
world  recognizes  the  valuable  services  that 
Dr.  Siemens  has  rendered  to  the  iron  and 
steel  trade  by  his  important  investigations 
and  inventions. 

Dr.  Siemens,  like  Mr.  Bessemer,  labored 
to  make  iron  and  steel  direct  from  the 
ores.  By  the  invention  of  his  regenerative 
gas  furnace,  which  makes  the  high  grade 
and  uniform  steel  so  desirable  in  the  con 
struction  of  ships,  boilers,  and  all  kinds 
of  machines,  Dr.  Siemens  has  rendered 
signal  service.  This  visit  at  Siemens 
Brothers  &  Co.  's  works  was  of  great  inter 
est,  and  many  valuable  ideas  were  gained. 

Several  days  were  next  spent  in  Birm 
ingham,  and  at  the  centers  of  steel  making 
in  northwest  England.  Birmingham  is 
called  the  "Toy  Shop  of  the  World"  for 
there  almost  everything  is  manufactured 
from  a  cambric  needle  to  a  cannon. 

Colonel    Harris    and    George    Ingram 


A  Search  for  Ideas  259 

studied  the  workings  of  the  English  "Sat 
urday  half-holiday,"  which  employees 
earn  by  working  an  extra  half-hour  on  the 
five  previous  days.  A  visit  was  made  to 
the  Tangye  Bros.  Engine  Works  at  Soho. 
near  Birmingham,  which  absorbed  the 
engine  works  of  Boulton  and  Watt.  It 
was  Boulton  who  said  to  Lord  Palmers- 
ton  visiting  Soho,  "Sir,  we  have  here  for 
sale  what  subjects  of  his  Majesty  most 
seek,  viz.,  Power. " 

The  Tangyes  employ  thousands  of  men, 
manufacturing  engines  and  other  prod 
ucts.  Steam  engines  of  all  sizes,  in  enor 
mous  quantities  are  stored,  ready  at  a 
moment's  notice  to  be  shipped  broadcast. 
It  was  the  invention  of  the  powerful 
Tangye  jack-screw  that  finally  enabled 
the  famous  engineer  Brunei  to  launch  his 
"Great  Eastern"  steamship  which  he  had 
built  on  the  Thames,  and  which  had  settled 
on  her  keel. 

Today  the  Tangye  Brothers  are  fond 
of  saying,  "We  launched  the  l Great  East 
ern,'  and  the ' Great  Eastern'  launched  us." 
One  of  the  Tangye  Brothers  took  the  two 
Americans  through  James  Watt's  old 
home,  and  into  his  famous  garret,  where 
Watt  invented  the  parallel  motion  and 


260    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

other  parts  of  the  steam  engine.  So  im 
portant  were  Watt's  engine  inventions 
that  he  alone  should  have  the  honor  of 
inventing  the  modern  engine  which  has 
so  elevated  the  race. 

George  was  greatly  interested  in  what 
the  Tangye  Brothers  were  doing  for  their 
employees.  Instructive  lectures  by  capable 
men  were  given  weekly  to  their  workmen, 
while  they  ate  their  dinners.  Medical  aid 
was  furnished  free,  and  in  many  ways 
practical  assistance  was  rendered  their 
working  force. 

After  a  most  interesting  journey  among 
the  steel  firms,  including  Bocklow  & 
Vaughn  of  Middleborough,  John  Brown  at 
Sheffield,  and  others,  Eeuben  Harris  and 
George  crossed  over  into  busy  Belgium, 
and  thence  they  journeyed  via  historic 
Cologne  to  Westphalia,  Germany.  Here 
are  some  of  the  most  productive  coal 
measures  on  the  earth,  which  extend  east 
ward  from  the  Rhine  for  over  thirty  miles, 
and  here  one  wonders  at  the  dense  net 
work  of  railways  and  manufacturing  estab 
lishments,  unparalleled  in  Germany. 

At  Essen  are  the  far-famed  Krupp 
Works,  one  of  the  greatest  manufacturing 
firms  on  the  globe.  These  works  are  the 


A  Search  for  Ideas  261 

outgrowth  of  a  small  old  forge,  driven  by 
water  power,  and  established  in  1810  by 
Frederick  Krupp.  His  short  life  was  a  hard 
struggle,  but  he  discovered  the  secret  of 
making  cast- steel,  and  died  in  1828.  Be 
fore  his  death,  however,  he  revealed  his 
valuable  secret  to  his  son  Alfred,  then  only 
14  years  of  age.  After  many  years  of 
severe  application,  Alfred  Krupp 's  first 
great  triumph  came  in  1851  at  the  Lon 
don  World's  Fair,  where  he  received  the 
highest  medal.  At  the  Paris  Exposition  of 
1855,  as  well  as  at  Munich  the  year  before, 
he  also  won  gold  medals. 

Abundant  orders  now  flowed  in  for 
his  breech-loading,  cast-steel  cannons.  In 
severe  tests  which  followed,  the  famous 
Woolwich  guns  were  driven  from  the  field. 
The  Krupp  guns  won  great  victories  over 
the  French  cannon  at  Sedan,  which  was 
an  artillery  duel.  At  Gravel otte  and  Metz 
the  Krupp  guns  surpassed  all  others  in 
range,  accuracy,  and  penetrating  power, 
and  Herr  Alfred  Krupp  became  the  "Can 
non  King"  of  Europe.  Americans  remem 
ber  well  his  gigantic  steel  breech-loading 
guns  at  the  expositions  held  in  Phila 
delphia,  and  Chicago. 

Alfred  Krupp,  however,  delighted  more 


262    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

in  improving  the  condition  of  his  army  of 
employees.  He  provided  for  them  miles  of 
roomy,  healthful  homes.  He  formed  a  com 
missariat,  where  his  employees  could 
secure  at  cost  price  all  the  necessaries  of 
life.  He  also  established  schools  where  the 
children  of  his  employees  could  receive 
education  if  desired  in  technical,  industrial, 
commercial,  and  mechanical  pursuits,  and 
in  special  and  classical  courses  as  well.  He 
devised  a  "Sick  and  Pension  Fund,"  for 
disabled  workmen,  which  scheme  Emperor 
William  II.  has  made  a  law  of  the  German 
Empire.  He  likewise  created  life  insur 
ance  companies,  and  widow  and  orphan 
funds.  The  golden  rule  has  been  Alfred 
Krupp 's  guiding  star.  He  was  always  kind 
and  considerate,  and  never  dictatorial. 

When  asked  to  accept  a  title,  he 
answered,  "No,  I  want  no  title  further 
than  the  name  of  Krupp."  Alfred  Krupp 
died  July  14,  1887,  in  the  75th  year  of 
his  age.  His  request  was  that  his  funeral 
should  take  place,  not  from  his  palatial 
mansion,  but  in  the  little  cottage  within 
the  works,  where  he  was  born,  which  is 
today  an  object  of  great  reverence  to  the 
25,000  workmen  who  earn  their  daily 
bread  in  the  vast  Krupp  foundries. 


A  Search  for  Ideas  263 

Alfred  Krupp  lived  to  see  Essen,  his 
native  village,  grow  from  a  population  of 
4,000  to  a  busy  city  of  70,000,  where 
annually  hundreds  of  engines  and  steam 
hammers  produce  thousands  of  tons  of 
steel  castings  and  forgings.  Alfred  Krupp 
built  his  own  monument  in  the  vast 
mills  and  benevolences  of  Essen,  a  monu 
ment  more  useful  and  enduring  than 
marble  or  bronze.  His  son  Frederick 
Alfred  Krupp,  his  successor,  married  the 
beautiful  Baroness  Margarette  von  Ende. 
Colonel  Harris  and  George  visited  other 
great  works  in  Europe,  and  finally  started 
to  rejoin  their  friends  in  Paris. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  HARRIS  PARTY  VISITS  PARIS 

THE  distance  is  two  hours  from  London  to 
Dover.  Half-way  is  Gad's  Hill,  famous 
as  the  residence  of  the  late  Charles 
Dickens.  Further  on  is  Canterbury, 
which  is  celebrated  as  the  stronghold 
of  Kentishmen  and  the  first  English  Chris 
tian  city.  Its  prime  attraction  of  course 
is  its  fine  cathedral,  which  in  1170  was 
the  scene  of  Becket's  murder. 

Dover  on  the  English  Channel  lies  in  a 
deep  valley  surrounded  by  high  chalk  hills. 
On  one  of  these,  which  is  strongly  forti 
fied,  may  be  seen  evidences  of  Norman, 
Saxon,  and  Roman  works. 

Every  morning  and  evening  the  royal 
mail  steamers  leave  Dover  for  Calais.  The 
channel  ride  of  twenty-one  miles  was  made 
by  the  Harrises  without  the  dreaded  mal 
de  mer.  In  the  railway  restaurant  at 
Calais,  Lucille  volunteered  to  order  for 
the  party,  but  she  soon  learned,  much  to 
the  amusement  of  her  friends,  that  the 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      265 

French  learned  in  Boston  is  not  successful 
at  first  in  France. 

The  express  to  Paris  is  through  Bou 
logne,  an  important  sea  town  of  fifty 
thousand  inhabitants,  which  combines 
much  English  comfort  with  French  taste. 
From  there  hundreds  of  fishing  boats 
extend  their  voyages  every  season  to  the 
Scotch  coast  and  even  to  far-off  Iceland. 

The  scenery  in  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
Somine  is  beautiful.  The  route  lies  through 
Amiens,  a  large  city  of  textile  industries, 
thence  across  the  Arve;  the  Harrises 
reached  the  station  of  the  Northern  Bail- 
way,  in  the  Place  Roubaix,  in  northern 
Paris  as  the  sun  faded  in  the  west 

Carriages  were  taken  for  the  Grand 
Hotel,  Boulevard  des  Capucines,  near  the 
new  opera  house,  which  is  centrally  located, 
and  offers  to  travelers  every  comfort. 
The  carriages  enter  a  court,  made  inviting 
by  fountains,  flowers,  and  electric  light. 

The  first  day  or  evening  in  Paris  is 
bewildering.  Early  in  the  morning  the 
Harrises  drove  along  the  inner  and  the 
outer  boulevards  that  encircle  Paris.  Many 
miles  of  fine  boulevards  were  built  under 
Napoleon  III.  Most  from  the  Madeleine 
to  the  July  Column  are  flanked  with 


266    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

massive  limestone  buildings,  palatial  man 
sions,  and  glittering  shops,  the  architecture 
of  which  is  often  uniform!,  and  balconies 
are  frequently  built  with  each  story.  Early 
every  morning  the  asphalt  and  other  pave 
ments  are  washed.  At  midday  a  busy 
throng  crowds  all  the  main  streets. 

Parisians  favor  residence  in  flats,  and 
they  enjoy  immensely  their  outdoor 
methods  of  living.  At  sundown  the  wide 
walks  in  front  of  brilliant  cafes  are 
crowded  with  well  dressed  men  and  women, 
who  seek  rest  and  refreshment  in  sipping 
coffee,  wine,  or  absynthe,  scanning  the 
papers  for  bits  of  social  or  political  news, 
and  discussing  the  latest  fad  or  sensation 
of  the  day.  The  English  hurry  but  the 
French  rarely. 

Paris  under  electric  light  is  indeed  a 
fairy-land.  The  boulevards  are  brilliant 
and  the  scenes  most  animating.  Everybody 
is  courteous,  and  all  seen  bent  on  a 
pleasurable  time.  Cafes,  shops,  and  places 
of  entertainment  are  very  inviting,  and 
you  easily  forget  to  note  the  passage  of 
time.  Midnight  even  overtakes  you  before 
you  are  aware  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour. 
This  is  true,  if  you  chance  to  visit,  as  did 
the  Harris  party,  some  characteristic 
phases  of  Parisian  life. 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      267 

Near  the  east  end  of  the  Champs-Ely- 
sees,  under  the  gas  light  and  beneath  the 
trees,  they  found  open-air  theaters,  eon- 
certs,  crowded  cafes,  and  pretty  booths 
supplied  with  sweets  and  drinks.  Every 
afternoon  if  the  weather  is  favorable, 
tastefully  dressed  children  appear  in 
charge  of  nursemaids  in  white  caps  and 
aprons,  and  together  they  make  pictur 
esque  groups  in  the  shade  of  elm  and  lime 
trees. 

At  breakfast,  Leo  proposed  a  study  of 
Paris,  as  seen  from  the  Arc  de  Triomphe 
de  1  'Etoile,  so  named  from  the  star  formed 
by  a  dozen  avenues  which  radiate  from 
it.  The  location  is  at  the  west  end  of  the 
Avenue  des  Champs-Elysees.  This  monu 
ment  is  one  of  the  finest  ever  built  by  any 
nation  for  its  defenders.  It  is  160  feet  in 
height,  145  in  width,  was  begun  in  1806  by 
Napoleon  and  completed  thirty  years  after 
wards  by  Louis  Philippe.  Figures  and 
reliefs  on  the  arch  represent  important 
events  in  Napoleon's  campaigns.  Arriving 
at  the  arch,  Leo  led  the  way  up  a  spiral 
staircase,  261  steps  to  the  platform  above 
which  commands  fine  views  of  Paris. 

The  Champs-Elysees,  a  boulevard  one 
thousand  feet  in  width,  extends  east  over 
a  mile  from  the  monument  of  the  Place 


268    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

de  la  Concord.  Handsome  buildings  flank 
the  sides,  and  much  of  the  open  space 
is  shaded  with  elm  and  lime  trees.  Grand 
statues,  fountains,  and  flowers  add  their 
charm.  Between  three  and  five  o'clock 
every  pleasant  afternoon  this  magnificent 
avenue  becomes  the  most  fashionable 
promenade  in  the  world.  Here  you  will 
behold  the  elite  in  attendance  at  Vanity 
Fair ;  many  are  riding  in  elegant  equipages, 
many  on  horseback,  and  almost  countless 
numbers  on  foot. 

The  popular  drive  is  out  the  Avenue  du 
Bois  de  Boulogne,  320  feet  in  width,  to  the 
Bois  de  Boulogne,  a  beautiful  park  of 
2250  acres,  containing  several  lakes  and 
fringed  on  the  west  side  by  the  River 
Seine.  In  the  southwest  part  of  this  park 
is  located  the  Hippodrome  de  Longchamp, 
which  is  the  principal  race-course  near 
Paris,  where  races  attract  vast  crowds, 
especially  when  the  French  Derby  or  the 
Grand  Prix  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  is 
competed  for  early  in  June. 

The  Harrises  standing  on  the  monument, 
looked  eastward,  and  Leo  pointed  out  the 
Eiver  Seine  shooting  beneath  more  than  a 
score  of  beautiful  stone  and  iron  bridges, 
and  making  a  bold  curve  of  seven  miles 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      269 

through  Paris.  Then  the  Seine  flows  like 
a  ribbon  of  silver  in  a  northwesterly  direc 
tion  into  the  English  Channel.  On  the  right 
bank  is  seen  the  Palais  du  Trocadero  of 
oriental  style,  which  was  used  for  the 
International  Exposition  of  1878.  On  the 
left  bank  stands  the  Palais  du  Luxembourg, 
rich  in  modern  French  art,  the  Hotel  des 
Invalides,  where  rests  Napoleon,  and  the 
Church  of  St.  Genevieve,  or  the  Pantheon, 
where  Victor  Hugo  is  buried. 

Beyond  the  Place  de  la  Concord  are  the 
Royal  Gardens  of  the  Tuileries,  where 
Josephine  and  Eugenie  walked  among 
classic  statues,  vases,  fountains  and 
flowers;  the  Louvre  filled  with  priceless 
art  treasures,  the  beautiful  Hotel  de  Ville 
or  city-hall,  majestic  Notre  Dame,  and  the 
graceful  Column  of  July.  Paris  is  truly  an 
earthly  Paradise.  For  centuries  it  has  been 
the  residence  of  French  rulers,  and  the 
mecca  of  her  pleasure  loving  citizens.  Fire, 
famine,  foreign  invasion,  civil  war,  and 
pestilence  have  often  swept  over  this,  the 
fairest  of  cities,  yet  from  each  affliction, 
Phoenix-like,  Paris  has  risen  brighter  and 
gayer  than  ever. 

Gertrude, May, and  Lucille  were  charmed 
with  the  fair  vision  before  them,  and  were 


270   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

anxious  to  leave  the  Arch  of  Triumph  and 
become  a  part  of  the  gay  city.  The  car 
riages  drove  back  to  the  Place  de  la 
Concord,  one  of  the  finest  open  places  in 
Europe.  Around  this  place  the  chief  cities 
of  France  are  represented  by  eight  large 
stone  figures.  That  of  Strasburg  the 
French  keep  in  mourning.  In  the  center 
stands  the  Obelisk  of  Luxor,  of  reddish 
granite,  which  was  brought  at  great 
expense  from  Egypt  and  tells  of  Barneses 
II.  and  his  successor.  Other  ornaments  are 
twenty  rostral  columns,  bearing  twin 
burners.  On  grand  occasions  this  place 
and  the  avenue  are  illuminated  by  thirty 
thousand  gas  lights. 

In  the  Place  de  la  Concord  the  guillotine 
did  its  terrible  work  in  the  months  between 
January  21st,  1793,  and  May  3rd,  1795, 
when  thousands  of  Eoyalists  and  Eepub- 
licans  perished.  Two  enormous  fountains 
adorned  with  Tritons,  Nereids,  and  Dol 
phins  beautify  the  court.  No  wonder  the 
brilliant  writer  Chateaubriand  objected  to 
the  erection  here  of  these  fountains, 
observing  that  all  the  water  in  the  world 
could  not  remove  the  blood  stains  which 
sullied  the  spot. 

How  beautiful   the  vista  up  the  broad 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris    271 

and  short  Rue  Koyale,  which  conducts 
to  the  classic  Madeleine!  Alfonso  was 
entranced  with  the  beauty  of  this  rare 
temple,  which  was  begun  and  finally  dedi 
cated  as  a  church,  though  Napoleon 
earnestly  hoped  to  complete  it  as  a  temple 
of  glory  for  his  old  soldiers.  Its  cost  was 
nearly  three  million  dollars.  A  colonnade 
of  fifty-two  huge  fluted  Corinthian  col 
umns  and  above  them  a  rich  frieze 
surround  the  church.  The  approach  is  by 
a  score  and  more  of  stone  steps  and 
through  enormous  bronze  doors  on  which 
the  Ten  Commandments  are  illustrated. 

Entering  the  Madeleine,  one  sees  an  in 
terior  richly  adorned,  floors  of  marble,  and 
lofty  columns  supporting  a  three-domed 
roof,  through  which  light  enters.  On  either 
side  are  six  confessionals  of  oak  and  gilt, 
where  prince  and  peasant  alike  confess 
their  sins.  Beyond  is  the  altar  of  spotless 
marble.  How  beautiful  the  group  of  white 
figures,  which  represents  Madeleine  for 
given,  and  borne  above  on  angels'  wings! 
This  artistic  group  cost  thirty  thousand 
dollars. 

On  Sunday  morning  Leo  and  his  friends 
came  to  the  Madeleine  which  is  the  met 
ropolitan  church  of  Paris.  Here  every 


272    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Sunday  exquisite  music  is  rendered,  and 
here  come  the  elite  to  worship  and  to  add 
liberal  gifts.  It  is  a  broad  policy  that  no 
Catholic  Church  on  the  globe,  not  even 
splendid  St.  Peter 's  of  Rome,  is  considered 
too  good  for  rich  and  poor  of  all  nation 
alities  to  occupy  together  for  the  worship 
of  the  Master. 

All  the  Parisian  churches  are  crowded 
on  Sunday  mornings,  but  Sunday  after 
noons  are  used  as  holidays,  and  all  kinds 
of  vehicles  and  trains  are  burdened  with 
well  dressed  people  in  pursuit  of  pleasure. 

Traveling  by  omnibus  and  tramway  in 
Paris  is  made  as  convenient  to  the  public 
as  possible;  nobody  is  permitted  to  ride 
without  a  seat,  and  there  are  frequent 
waiting  stations  under  cover.  This  is  as 
it  should  be.  Nearly  a  hundred  lines  of 
omnibuses  and  tramways  in  Paris  intersect 
each  other  in  every  direction.  Inside  the 
fares  are  six  cents,  outside  three  cents. 
A  single  fare  allows  of  a  transfer  from  one 
line  to  another.  Railways  surround  Paris, 
thus  enabling  the  public  to  reach  easily 
the  many  pretty  suburbs  and  villages. 

Both  Mrs.  Harris  and  Gertrude  on  their 
return  to  the  Grand  Hotel  were  glad  to  find 
letters  from  the  men  they  loved.  George 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      273 

wrote  Gertrude  that  he  was  amazed  at 
the  enormous  capacity  of  the  manufactur 
ing  plants  which  he  and  Colonel  Harris 
were  visiting;  that  both  labor  and  capital 
were  much  cheaper  than  in  America.  His 
closing  words  were,  "  Learn  all  you  can, 
darling,  I  shall  soon  come  to  claim  you." 

Gertrude  had  read  of  the  laundries  on 
the  Seine,  so  she  left  the  hotel  early  with 
her  mother  and  Alfonso  to  see  them,  while 
Leo,  Lucille,  and  May  went  to  study  con 
temporaneous  French  masterpieces  in  the 
Luxembourg  palace  and  gallery.  The  pub 
lic  wash  houses  on  the  Seine  are  large 
floating  structures  with  glass  roofs,  steam 
ing  boilers,  and  rows  of  tubs  foaming  with 
suds.  Hard  at  work,  stand  hundreds  of 
strong  and  bare  armed  women,  who  scrub 
and  wring  their  linen,  while  they  sing  and 
reply  to  the  banter  of  passing  bargee  or 
canotier. 

If  the  sun  is  shining  and  the  water  is 
clear,  the  blue  cotton  dresses  of  the  women 
contrast  prettily  with  white  linen  and 
bare  arms  busily  employed.  Though  they 
earn  but  a  pittance,  about  five  cents  an 
hour,  yet  they  are  very  independent;  mut 
ual  assistance  is  their  controlling  creed, 
and  few,  if  any,  honor  more  loyally  the  re- 


274    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

publican  principle  of  liberty,  equality  and 
fraternity.  The  women  seemed  to  do  all 
the  hard  work,  while  the  men  in  snowy 
shirts  and  blue  cotton  trousers,  with  scar 
let  girdles  about  their  waists,  pushed 
deftly  to  and  fro  the  hot  flat  or  box  irons 
over  white  starched  linen. 

Each  ironer  has  a  bit  of  wax,  which  he 
passes  over  the  hot  iron  when  he  comes 
to  the  front,  the  collar,  or  the  wrist-bands, 
and  he  boasts  that  he  can  goffer  a  frill 
or  " bring  up"  a  pattern  of  lace  better  than 
a  Chinaman. 

Alfonso  and  his  party  drove  along  the 
handsome  Rue  de  Rivoli,  with  its  half-mile 
of  arcades,  attractive  shops,  and  hotels 
of  high  grade,  and  up  the  Rue  Castiglione, 
which  leads  to  the  Place  Vendome.  Here  in 
one  of  a  hundred  open  places  in  Paris 
rises  the  Column  Vendome  in  imitation  of 
Trajan's  column  in  Rome.  The  inscription 
records  that  it  is  to  commemorate  Napo 
leon's  victories  in  1805  over  the  Austrians 
and  Russians.  On  the  pedestal  are  reliefs 
which  represent  the  uniforms  and  weapons 
of  the  conquered  armies.  The  memorable 
scenes,  from  the  breaking  of  camp  at  Bou 
logne  down  to  the  Battle  of  Austerlitz,  are 
shown  on  a  broad  bronze  band  that  winds 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      275 

spirally  up  to  the  capital,  and  the  shaft  is 
surmounted  by  a  bronze  statue  of  Napoleon 
in  his  imperial  robes. 

Fortunately  Alfonso's  carriage  overtook 
Leo's  party,  and  they  visited  together  the 
pretty  arcades  and  gardens  of  the  Palais 
Royal.  In  the  open  courts  are  trees,  flowers, 
fountains,  and  statues,  and  on  the  four 
sides  are  inviting  cafes  and  shops 
which  display  tempting  jewelry  and  other 
beautiful  articles.  On  summer  evenings  a 
military  band  plays  here.  Returning,  the 
ladies  stepped  into  the  Grand  Magasin  du 
Louvre.  At  a  buffet,  refreshments  were 
gratis,  and  everywhere  were  crowds,  who 
evidently  appreciated  the  great  variety  of 
materials  for  ladies 'dresses,  the  fine  cloths, 
latest  novelties,  exquisite  laces,  etc.  The 
ladies  planned  to  return  here,  and  to  make 
a  visit  to  the  famous  Au  Bon  Marche, 
where  cheap  prices  always  prevail.  Most  of 
the  afternoon  was  spent  in  the  Louvre,  a 
vast  palace  of  art,  and  the  even-ing  at  the 
Theatre  Frangais,  the  ceiling  of  which 
represents  France,  bestowing  laurels  upon 
her  three  great  children,  Moliere,  Corn- 
eille,  and  Racine.  The  Theatre  Frangais 
occupies  the  highest  rank.  Its  plays  are 
usually  of  a  high  class,  and  the  acting  is 


276    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

admirable.  The  government  grants  this 
theatre  an  annual  subsidy  of  about  fifty 
thousand  dollars. 

Early  next  morning,  the  Harrises  took 
carriages  to  the  Halles  Centrales,  or  union 
markets.  These  markets  consist  of  ten 
pavilions  intersected  by  streets.  There  are 
twenty-five  hundred  stalls  which  cover 
twenty- two  acres,  and  cost  fifteen  million 
dollars.  Under  the  markets  are  twelve 
hundred  cellars  for  storage.  The  sales  to 
wholesale  dealers  are  made  by  auction 
early  in  the  day,  and  they  average  about 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Then  the  retail 
traffic  begins.  The  supplies,  some  of  which 
come  from  great  distances  along  the  Medi 
terranean,  include  meat,  fish,  poultry,  game, 
oysters,  vegetables,  fruit,  flowers,  butters, 
cream  cheese,  etc.  Great  throngs  of  people, 
mostly  in  blue  dresses  and  blouses,  with 
baskets  and  bundles  constantly  surge  past 
you.  The  whole  scene  is  enjoyable.  Every 
thing  they  offer  is  fresh,  and  the  prices 
usually  are  reasonable.  When  you  make  a 
purchase,  you  are  made  to  feel  that  you 
have  conferred  a  favor  and  are  repeatedly 
thanked  for  it. 

The  few  days  that  followed  in  Paris 
were  days  of  rest,  or  were  spent  in  plan- 


The  Harris  Party  Visits  Paris      277 

ning  for  the  future.  The  art  galleries  and 
the  shops  on  the  boulevards  were  repeat 
edly  visited,  theaters  and  rides  were  en 
joyed,  and  on  Friday  morning,  the  ladies 
went  to  the  railway  station  to  take  leave  of 
Alfonso  and  Leo,  who  left  Paris  for  the 
study  of  art  in  the  Netherlands.  Colonel 
Harris  and  George  Ingrain  were  expected 
to  arrive  in  Paris  on  Saturday  evening. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

IN    BELGIUM    AND    HOLLAND 

BELUCTANTLY  Alfonso  and  Leo  left  Lucille 
and  May  in  Paris.  Both  were  well  educated 
and  beautiful  women.  It  is  possible  that 
Alfonso  might  have  loved  May  Ingram 
had  he  been  thrown  more  into  her  com 
pany,  and  so  known  her  better  in  early 
life,  but  the  Harrises  and  Ingrams  rarely 
met  each  other  in  society.  As  for  Leo,  he 
loved  Lucille,  but  she  had  erected  an 
impassable  barrier  in  her  utterance  on  the 
steamer,  ' i  First  love  or  none. ' ' 

Leo  in  a  thousand  ways  had  been  kind 
to  her,  because  he  hoped  eventually  to 
win  her  favor,  and  possibly  because  he 
fully  appreciated  the  value  of  money. 
Fortunes  in  Europe  are  not  so  easily  made, 
but  once  won,  the  rich  of  the  old  world 
as  a  rule  husband  their  resources  better 
then  they  of  the  new  world.  On  the  whole 
Alfonso  and  Leo  were  glad  to  cut  loose 
from  society  obligations  and  be  free  to 
absorb  what  generations  of  art  develop 
ment  in  the  Netherlands  had  to  offer. 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          279 

Leaving  Paris  they  took  the  express  via 
Rheims  for  Brussels.  Entering  this  beauti 
ful  capital  of  the  Belgians  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city,  they  took  a  cab  that  drove 
past  the  Botanic  Garden  down  the  Rue 
Royale  to  the  Hotel  Bellevue  which  is  near 
the  Royal  Palace  and  overlooks  a  park, 
embellished  with  sculptures,  trees,  flowers, 
and  smooth  lawns.  One  of  the  most  enjoy 
able  and  profitable  things  for  tourists  to  do 
in  their  travels  is  to  climb  at  least  one 
tower  or  height,  as  the  views  and  correct 
information  thus  obtained  will  cling  long 
est  to  the  memory. 

Brussels  is  Paris  in  miniature.  The 
royal  palace  and  park  may  be  compared 
to  the  Tuileries.  The  beautiful  drive  down 
the  Boulevard  de  Waterloo  and  up  Avenue 
Louise  leads  directly  to  the  Bois  de  la 
Cambre,  a  lovely  forest  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  acres,  which  resembles  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne  of  Paris.  Nearly  six  miles  of 
old  and  new  boulevards  encircle  Brussels, 
passing  through  the  upper  and  lower  por 
tions  of  the  city.  The  pleasing  variety  of 
some  of  the  more  handsome  buildings  is 
due  to  the  competition  for  large  premiums 
offered  for  the  finest  facades.  The  resem 
blance  of  Brussels  to  Paris  is  perhaps 
more  apparent  in  the  cafes,  shops,  and 


280    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

public  amusements  along  the  busy  boule 
vards.  West  of  the  Royal  Palace  is  the 
picture  gallery  owned  by  the  state,  and 
by  judicious  and  repeated  purchases,  the 
collection  of  pictures  is  considered  superior 
to  that  of  the  famous  gallery  in  Antwerp. 
In  this  gallery  the  two  young  artists  spent 
several  pleasant  half-days  comparing  the 
early  Flemish  and  Dutch  schools.  Espec 
ially  did  they  study  portrait  work  by 
Rubens,  Frans  Hals,  and  Van  der  Heist. 
All  the  work  by  the  blacksmith  artist 
Quinten  Matsys  in  color  or  iron  proved 
of  great  interest  to  the  young  Americans. 

Finally  Leo,  who  knew  much  of  the  old 
masters  of  Europe,  took  Alfonso  to  see 
the  Musee  Wiertz,  which  contains  all  the 
works  of  a  highly  gifted  and  eccentric 
master.  In  a  kind  of  distemper  Wiertz 
painted  Napoleon  in  the  Infernal  Region, 
Vision  of  a  Beheaded  Man,  A  Suicide,  The 
Last  Cannon,  Curiosity,  and  Contest  of 
Good  and  Evil,  Hunger,  Madness  and 
Crime,  etc.  As  Brussels  is  located  near  the 
center  of  Belgium,  the  city  is  very  con 
venient  to  several  cities  that  contain  many 
works  attractive  to  painters  and  architects. 

On  arrival  at  Antwerp  Alfonso  and  Leo 
rode  to  one  of  the  stately  cathedrals,  near 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          281 

which  a  military  band  was  playing.  Before 
the  church  stood  a  bronze  statue  of  Peter 
Paul  Rubens.  The  scrolls  and  books,  which 
lie  on  the  pedestal,  with  brush,  palette,  and 
hat,  are  allusions  to  the  varied  pursuits 
of  Rubens  as  diplomatist,  statesman,  and 
painter.  The  two  young  artists  hastened 
into  the  cathedral  to  see  Eubens 's  famous 
pictures,  The  Descent  from  the  Cross,  and 
The  Assumption.  His  conception  and 
arrangement  were  admirable,  his  drawing 
carefully  done,  and  his  coloring  harmoni 
ous  and  masterly. 

Rubens,  the  prince  of  Flemish  painters, 
was  knighted.  He  was  handsome  and  ami 
able,  and  his  celebrity  as  an  artist  pro 
cured  for  him  the  friendship  and  patronage 
of  princes  and  men  of  distinction  through 
out  Europe. 

Not  far  from  the  cathedral  the  young 
artists  came  to  the  museum,  in  front  of 
which  rises  a  statue  to  Van  Dyck,  pupil 
of  Rubens.  '  *  Here,  Alfonso, ' '  said  Leo, i '  is 
encouragement  for  you,  for  Van  Dyck 
like  yourself  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy  man 
or  merchant  of  Antwerp.  He  was  educated 
in  Italy,  where  he  executed  several  fine 
portraits  which  I  saw  in  Genoa  as  I 
journeyed  to  Paris."  Charles  I.  of  Eng 


282    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

land  appointed  Van  Dyck  court-painter 
and  knighted  him.  Van  Dyck's  ambition 
was  to  excel  in  historical  works,  but  the 
demand  upon  him  for  portraits  never  left 
him  much  leisure  for  other  subjects.  How 
often  "man  proposes,  but  God  disposes." 

Alfonso  and  Leo  reached  Dort  or  Dor 
drecht,  which  in  the  middle  ages  was  the 
most  powerful  and  wealthy  commercial 
city  in  Holland.  Huge  rafts  float  down 
from  the  German  forests,  and  at  Dordrecht 
the  logs  are  sawed  by  the  many  wind 
mills.  The  Dutch  province  of  Zealand  is 
formed  by  nine  large  islands  on  the  coast 
of  the  North  Sea,  and  it  has  for  its  heraldic 
emblem  a  swimming  lion  with  a  motto 
Luctor  et  Emergo. 

Most  of  the  province,  which  is  created 
by  the  alluvial  deposits  of  the  Scheldt,  is 
below  the  sea-level,  and  is  protected  against 
the  encroachments  of  the  sea  by  vast  em 
bankments  of  an  aggregate  length  of  300 
miles.  Willows  are  planted  along  the  dykes, 
the  annual  repairs  of  which  cost  $425,000. 
An  old  proverb  says,  "God  made  the  land, 
we  Dutch  made  the  sea." 

This  fertile  soil  produces  abundant  crops 
of  wheat  and  other  grain.  Near  Dort  is 
a  vast  reed-forest,  covering  more  than  100 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          283 

islands,  which  is  also  called,  "Verdronken 
land,"  drowned  land.  This  area  of  forty 
square  miles,  once  a  smiling  agricultural 
tract,  was  totally  inundated  on  the  18th  of 
November,  1421.  Seventy-two  thriving 
market  towns  and  villages  were  destroyed, 
and  100,000  persons  perished.  Leo  made  a 
sketch  of  the  tower  of  Huis  Merwede,  the 
solitary  and  only  relic  of  this  desolate 
scene. 

The  two  artists  visited  Rotterdam,  the 
second  commercial  city  in  Holland,  which 
is  fourteen  miles  from  the  North  Sea  and 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Maas.  An  attrac 
tive  quay  a  mile  in  length  is  the  arriving 
and  starting  point  for  over  100  steamboats 
that  connect  Rotterdam  with  Dutch  towns, 
the  Rhine,  England,  France,  Russia,  and 
the  Mediterranean. 

Alfonso  and  Leo  studied  the  collection 
of  portraits  at  Boyman's  Museum,  and 
sketched  in  the  River  Park  the  happy 
people  who  were  grouped  under  trees,  by 
the  fish  ponds,  and  along  the  grassy 
expanses.  Alfonso  bought  a  photograph 
of  the  illustrious  Erasmus.  It  is  about  ten 
miles  to  Delft,  once  celebrated  for  its  pot 
tery  and  porcelain,  a  city  to-day  of  25,000 
inhabitants.  Here  on  the  10th  of  July,  1584, 


284   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

William  of  Orange,  Founder  of  Dutch 
independence,  was  shot  by  an  assassin  to 
secure  the  price  set  on  William's  head  by 
Farnese. 

Our  two  artists  visited  a  church  in 
Delft  to  see  the  marble  monument  to  the 
memory  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  which 
was  inscribed  "Prince  William,  the  Father 
of  the  Fatherland."  Not  far  is  Delft  Haven 
which  Americans  love  to  visit,  and  where 
the  pious  John  Robinson  blessed  a  brave 
little  band  as  it  set  sail  to  plant  in  a  new 
world  the  tree  of  Liberty. 

At  length  the  artists  reached  The  Hague, 
which  for  centuries  has  been  the  favorite 
residence  of  the  Dutch  princes,  and  today 
is  occupied  by  the  court,  nobles,  and  diplo 
matists.  No  town  in  Holland  possesses  so 
many  broad  and  handsome  streets,  lofty 
and  substantial  blocks,  and  spacious 
squares  as  The  Hague. 

Alfonso  and  Leo  hastened  to  Schevenin- 
gen,  three  miles  west  of  The  Hague,  on 
the  breezy  and  sandy  shores  of  the  North 
Sea,  a  clean  fishing  village  of  neat  brick 
houses  sheltered  from  the  sea  by  a  lofty 
sand  dune.  Here  bathing  wagons  are 
drawn  by  a  strong  horse  into  the  ocean, 
where  the  bather  can  take  his  cool  plunge. 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          285 

Scheveningen  possesses  a  hundred  fishing- 
boats.  The  fishermen  have  an  independent 
spirit  and  wear  quaint  dress.  A  public 
crier  announces  the  arrival  of  their  car 
goes,  which  are  sold  at  auction  on  the 
beach,  often  affording  picturesque  and 
amusing  scenes,  sketches  of  which  were 
made.  The  luminous  appearance  of  the 
sea  caused  by  innumerable  mollusca 
affords  great  pleasure  to  visitors,  twenty 
thousand  of  whom  every  year  frequent 
this  fashionable  sea-bathing  resort. 

The  second  evening  after  the  artists' 
arrival  at  Scheveningen,  as  they  saun 
tered  along  on  the  brick-paved  terrace  in 
sight  of  white  sails  and  setting  sun,  Al 
fonso  was  agreeably  surprised  to  meet  in 
company  with  her  mother,  Christine  de 
Ruyter,  a  young  artist,  whose  acquaintance 
he  had  made  in  the  Louvre  at  Paris. 

Christine's  father,  prominent  for  a  long 
time  in  the  vessel  trade,  had  recently  died, 
leaving  a  fortune  to  his  wife  and  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom,  Fredrika  was 
already  married.  They  were  descended 
from  the  famous  Admiral  de  Kuyter,  who 
in  1673  defeated  the  united  fleets  of  France 
and  England  off  the  coast  of  Scheveningen, 
which  fact  added  much  of  interest  to  their 


286    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

annual  visit  to  this  resort.  While  Leo 
talked  with  the  mother,  Alfonso  listened 
to  Christine,  as  she  told  much  about  the 
historic  family  with  which  she  was  con 
nected,  and  in  return  she  learned  somewhat 
of  young  Harris's  family  and  their  visit 
to  Europe. 

Christine,  who  was  about  Alfonso's  age, 
had  fair  complexion,  light  hair,  and  soft 
blue  eyes.  Her  beauty  added  refinement 
that  education  and  wide  travel  usually 
furnish. 

It  was  seen  in  Alfonso's  face  and  in  his 
marked  deference  that  Christine  filled 
his  ideal  of  a  beautiful  woman.  Christine 
and  her  mother  and  the  young  artists  were 
registered  at  the  Hotel  de  Orange,  so  of 
necessity  they  were  thrown  into  each 
other's  company.  They  drove  to  The 
Hague,  compared  the  statues  of  William 
of  Orange  with  each  other;  rode  along 
the  elegant  streets,  south  through  the  Zoo 
logical  and  Botanical  Gardens,  through 
the  park,  and  to  the  drill  grounds.  A  half- 
day  was  spent  in  visiting  the  i  i  House  in  the 
Woods,"  a  Royal  Villa,  one  and  one-half 
miles  northeast  of  The  Hague.  This  palace 
is  beautifully  decorated,  particularly  the 
Orange  Salon,  which  was  painted  by  artists 
of  the  school  of  Rubens. 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          287 

Alfonso  and  Leo  enjoyed  their  visits 
to  the  celebrated  picture  gallery,  which 
contains  among  many  Dutch  paintings  the 
famous  pictures  by  Paul  Potter  and 
Rembrandt.  Paul  Potter's  Bull  is  de 
servedly  popular.  This  picture  was  once 
carried  off  to  Paris,  and  there  ranked  high 
in  the  Louvre,  and  later  the  Dutch 
offered  60,000  florins  to  Napoleon  for  its 
restoration. 

Christine,  who  was  well  conversant  with 
art  matters,  knew  the  location  and  artistic 
value  of  each  painting  and  guided  the 
young  Americans  to  works  by  Van  Dyck, 
Rubens,  the  Tenniers,  Holbein,  and  others. 
She  was  proud  of  a  terra-cotta  head  of  her 
ancestor,  Admiral  de  Ruyter.  The  party 
soon  reached  Rembrandt's  celebrated 
"School  of  Anatomy,"  originally  painted 
for  the  Amsterdam  Guild  of  Surgeons. 
Tulp  is  in  black  coat  with  lace  collar 
and  broad-brimmed  soft  hat,  dissecting  a 
sinew  of  the  arm  of  the  corpse  before 
him.  He  is  explaining,  with  gesture  of  his 
left  hand,  his  theory  to  a  group  of  Amster 
dam  surgeons.  No  painter  ever  before 
succeeded  in  so  riveting  the  attention  of 
spectators  in  the  presence  of  death.  The 
listeners  appear  altogether  unconscious  of 


288    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

the  pallid  corpse  that  lies  before  them  on 
the  dissecting  table. 

Invited  by  Christine 's  mother,  the  young 
artists  accompanied  the  De  Euyters  to 
Amsterdam,  the  commercial  capital  of 
Holland,  with  300,000  inhabitants.  They 
live  on  ninety  islands  formed  by  intersect 
ing  canals,  which  are  crossed  by  three 
hundred  bridges.  The  buildings  rest  on 
foundations  of  piles,  or  trees,  which  fact 
gave  rise  to  Erasmus 's  jest,  that  he  knew 
a  city  where  the  people  dwelt  on  tops  of 
trees,  like  rooks. 

Alfonso  took  Leo  into  the  suburbs  to 
see  diamond  polishing.  The  machinery  is 
run  by  steam,  and  the  work  is  done  largely 
by  Portuguese  Jews.  These  precious  stones 
are  cut  or  sawed  through  by  means  of 
wires  covered  with  diamond  dust,  and  the 
gems  are  polished  by  holding  them  against 
rapidly  revolving  iron  disks  moistened 
with  a  mixture  of  diamond  dust  and  oil. 

Christine's  people  lived  in  a  red  brick 
mansion,  the  gable  of  which  contained  a 
portrait  in  relief  of  Admiral  de  Euyter, 
and  fronted  a  shaded  street  on  a  canal. 
Here  the  American  artists  were  hand 
somely  entertained.  They  were  driven  to 
the  picture  galleries  and  the  palace  or 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          289 

town-hall  in  the  Dam  Square,  where  Louis 
Napoleon  and  Hortense  once  resided.  From 
the  tower  which  terminates  in  a  gilded 
ship  the  artists  obtained  fine  views  of 
Northern  Holland.  Christine  pointed  out 
the  Exchange  and  other  objects  of  interest 
in  the  city,  which  abounds  in  narrow 
streets  and  broad  canals,  the  latter  lined 
with  fine  shade  trees.  Many  of  the  tall, 
narrow  houses  have  red  tile  roofs,  quaint 
fork-chimneys,  and  they  stand  with  gables 
to  the  canals.  The  docks  show  a  forest  of 
masts. 

The  environs  of  the  city  are  covered 
with  gardens ;  trees  adorn  the  roads,  while 
poplars  and  willows  cross  or  divide  the 
fields,  which  are  studded  with  windmills 
and  distant  spires,  and  everywhere  are 
seen  fertile  corps,  black  and  white  cattle, 
and  little  boats  creeping  slowly  along  the 
canals. 

A  Hollander's  wealth  is  often  estimated 
by  his  windmills.  If  asked,  "How  rich!" 
The  reply  comes,  "Oh,  he  is  worth  ten  or 
twelve  windmills."  Holland  seems  alive 
with  immense  windmills.  They  grind  corn, 
they  saw  wood,  they  pulverize  rocks,  and 
they  are  yoked  to  the  inconstant  winds  and 
forced  to  contend  with  the  water,  the  great 


290   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

enemy  of  the  Dutch.  They  constantly  pump 
water  from  the  marshes  into  canals,  and 
so  prevent  the  inundation  of  the  inhab 
itants.  The  Hollander  furnishes  good 
illustration  of  the  practical  value  of  Emer 
son  's  words,  "Borrow  the  strength  of  the 
elements.  Hitch  your  wagon  to  a  star,  and 
see  the  chores  done  by  the  gods  them 
selves.  ' ' 

To  the  west  are  seen  the  church  spires 
of  Haarlem,  and  its  long  canal,  which  like 
a  silver  thread  ties  it  to  Amsterdam.  To 
the  east  the  towers  of  Utrecht  are  visible, 
and  to  the  north  glitter  in  the  morning  sun 
the  red  roofs  of  Zaandam  and  Alkmaar. 

Far  away  stretched  the  waters  of  the 
Zuider  Zee,  which  Holland  plans  to  reclaim 
by  an  enbankment  from  the  extreme  cape 
of  North  Holland,  to  the  Friesland  coast, 
so  as  to  shut  out  the  ocean,  and  thereby 
acquire  750,000  square  miles  of  new  land; 
a  whole  province.  At  present  3,000  persons 
and  15,000  vessels  are  employed  in  the 
Zuider  Zee  fisheries,  the  revenues  of  which 
average  $850,000  a  year.  It  is  proposed  to 
furnish  equivalents  to  satisfy  these  fisher 
men.  It  is  estimated  that  this  wonderful 
engineering  feat  will  extend  over  33  years 
and  cost  $131,250,000. 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          291 

Christine  now  conducted  her  artist 
friends  out  of  the  Palace  and  over  to 
the  Rijks  Museum  to  see  Rembrandt's 
largest  and  best  work,  his  ' '  Night  Watch. ' ' 
It  is  on  the  right  as  you  enter,  covering  the 
side  of  the  room.  It  represents  a  company 
of  arquebi:siers,  energetically  emerging 
from  their  Guild  House  on  the  Singel.  The 
light  and  shade  of  the  Night  Watch  is  so 
treated  as  to  form  a  most  effective  dra 
matic  scene,  which,  since  its  creation,  in 
1642,  has  been  enthusiastically  admired  by 
all  art  connoisseurs. 

Rembrandt  was  the  son  of  a  miller,  and 
his  studio  was  in  his  father's  wind-mill, 
where  light  came  in  at  a  single  narrow 
window.  By  close  observation  he  became 
master  of  light  and  shade,  and  excelled  in 
vigor  and  realism.  At  $50  a  year  he  taught 
pupils  who  flocked  to  him  from  all  parts  of 
Europe,  but,  like  too  many  possessed  of 
fine  genius,  he  died  in  poverty.  Later,  Lon 
don  paid  $25,000  for  a  single  one  of  his 
six  hundred  and  forty  paintings.  The  Dutch 
painters  put  on  canvas  the  every-day  home- 
life  and  manners  of  their  people,  while 
the  Flemish  represented  more  the  religious 
life  of  the  lower  Netherlands. 

These  journeys  in  Belgium  gave  Alfonso 


292    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

and  Leo  enlarged  ideas  as  to  the  possibili 
ties  of  portrait  painting.  In  Alma  Tadema, 
of  Dutch  descent,  and  Millais  they  saw 
modern  examples  of  wonderful  success, 
which  made  clear  to  them  that  the  high  art 
of  portrait  painting  once  acquired,  both 
fame  and  fortune  are  sure  to  follow. 

Christine  de  Ruyter  had  taken  lessons 
of  the  best  masters  in  Holland,  Italy,  and 
France.  Few,  if  any  women  artists  of  her 
age,  equalled  or  excelled  her.  Her  conversa 
tions  on  art  in  the  Netherlands  charmed 
her  two  artist  friends.  She  said,  "The 
works  of  art  of  the  fifteenth  and  seven 
teenth  centuries  in  the  Netherlands  seemed 
to  grow  out  of  the  very  soil  of  the  low 
countries.  Our  old  artists  revelled  in  the 
varied  costumes  and  manifold  types  that 
thronged  the  cities  of  the  Hanseatic 
League.  The  artist's  imagination  was  fasci 
nated  by  the  wealth  of  color  he  saw  on 
sturdy  laborers,  on  weather-beaten  mari 
ners,  burly  citizens,  and  sagacious  traders. 

"Rubens  delighted  often  in  a  concen 
trated  light,  and  was  master  of  artistic 
material  along  the  whole  range.  He  painted 
well  portraits,  landscapes,  battles  of 
heroes,  gallant  love-making  of  the  noble, 
and  the  coarse  pleasures  of  the  vulgar. 


In  Belgium  and  Holland          293 

Nearly  a  thousand  pictures  bear  the  name 
of  Rubens. 

"The  artistic  labor  of  Frans  Hals  of 
Haarlem  extended  over  half  a  century.  He 
possessed  the  utmost  vivacity  of  concep 
tion,  purity  of  color,  and  breadth  of  execu 
tion,  as  shown  in  his  latest  works,  and  so 
well  did  he  handle  his  brush  that  drawing 
seems  almost  lost  in  a  maze  of  color  tone. 
The  throng  of  genre  painters,  who  have 
secured  for  Dutch  art  its  greatest  triumph, 
are  well  nigh  innumerable." 

Christine  was  very  fond  of  flower-pieces, 
and  had  painted  lovely  marguerites  on 
Gertrude's  white  dress,  in  Alfonso's  full 
length  picture  of  his  sister,  which  he  was 
soon  to  carry  to  Paris  as  his  wedding 
present. 

Leo  and  Alfonso  much  wished  to  extend 
their  journey  north  to  Copenhagen  and 
Stockholm,  the  "Venice  of  the  North, "  but 
letters  urging  a  speedy  return  to  the  mar 
riage  of  George  and  Gertrude  in  Paris, 
forced  the  two  artists  to  shorten  their 
journey,  say  good-bye  to  their  kind  friends 
of  Amsterdam,  and  hasten  back  to  Paris, 
taking  portraits  of  their  own  skill  as 
wedding  gifts. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

PARIS  AND  THE  WEDDING 

FRIDAY  morning,  Alfonso  and  Leo  were 
missed  at  the  table,  and  during  the  day  as 
guides.  Early  every  day  while  in  Paris,  Al 
fonso  had  bouquets  of  fresh  flowers  sent  to 
the  rooms  of  his  mother,  sisters,  and  May 
Ingram.  After  his  departure  the  flowers 
did  not  corne,  so  Gertrude  and  May  before 
breakfast  walked  down  the  boulevard  to 
the  flower  show,  near  the  Madeleine, 
where  twice  a  week  are  gathered  many 
flower  carts  in  charge  of  courteous  peasant 
women.  The  flowers  of  Paris  are  usually 
cheap.  A  franc,  eighteen  cents,  buys  a 
bunch  of  pansies,  or  roses  in  bud  or  full 
bloom,  or  marguerites.  The  latter  are  sim 
ilar  to  the  English  ox-eyed  daisy,  a  favorite 
flower  with  the  French,  also  with  Gertrude, 
who  often  pinned  a  bunch  on  May  Ingram. 
In  mid-winter  Parisian  gardeners  delight 
in  forcing  thousands  of  white  lilac  blos 
soms,  which  are  sold  in  European  capitals 
for  holiday  gifts. 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  295 

Gertrude  and  May  hurried  back  to  the 
hotel  as  happy  as  the  birds  in  the  trees 
of  the  boulevard.  When  Gertrude  reached 
her  mother,  a  telegram  was  given  her 
from  George  which  read: 

CITY  OF  BBUSSELS. 
Gertrude  — 

We  expect  to  arrive  in  Paris  Saturday 
evening  6  o'clock.  Alfonso  and  Leo  here. 
All  well.  Grand  trip.  Love  to  all. 

GEOEGE 

Mrs.  Harris  and  her  young  ladies 
planned  to  give  most  of  the  day  to  the 
purchase  of  Gertrude's  trousseau  and 
other  needed  articles.  May  Ingram  thought 
it  was  "just  lovely"  to  be  with  Gertrude 
in  Paris,  and  help  her  select  the  wedding 
outfit.  Earlier  than  usual  on  Friday  morn 
ing  the  Harrises  left  the  hotel.  All  four 
women  were  somewhat  excited,  as  Mrs. 
Harris  and  Gertrude  led  the  way,  Lucille 
and  May  following,  to  M.  Worth's  estab 
lishment,  located  at  Rue  de  la  Paix  7. 

Lucille  said,  "It  is  strange  indeed  that, 
in  view  of  the  French  ridicule  made  of  the 
English  on  account  of  their  lack  of  taste 
in  dress,  the  best  dressmakers  in  Paris 
should  be  Englishmen." 


296    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Chief  among  all  the  Parisian  dress 
makers  is  Charles  Frederick  Worth,  who 
was  born  in  1825,  at  Bourne,  Lincolnshire. 
He  came  to  Paris  in  1858,  and  opened 
business  with  fifty  employees  combining 
the  selling  of  fine  dress  material  and  the 
making  of  it.  Worth  now  employs  twelve 
hundred  persons,  and  turns  out  annually 
over  six  thousand  dresses  and  nearly  four 
thousand  cloaks ;  his  sons  ably  assist  him. 

Bare  fabrics  and  designs  in  silk  and 
other  choice  material  are  woven,  and  artis 
tic  ornaments  are  made  especially  for  M. 
Worth.  Paris,  as  the  center  of  fashion,  is 
greatly  indebted  to  him,  who  gained  in 
his  line  world-wide  fame,  and  for  nearly 
half  a  century  he  has  been  universally 
recognized  by  his  competitors  and  the 
fair  sex  as  master  of  his  art.  Kingdoms, 
empires,  republics,  and  cabinets  in  swift 
succession  followed  each  other,  but  the 
establishment  of  M.  Worth  maintained  its 
proud  position  against  all  changes  and 
rivals.  He  was  helped  to  the  highest  pedes 
tal  of  dictator  of  fashions  by  Mme.  de 
Pourtales  and  Princess  Pauline  Metter- 
nich,  both  of  whom  possessed  a  keen  sense 
of  the  fitness  of  texture,  color,  and  cut, 
and  with  delicate  hands  could  tone  and 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  297 

modify  till  perfection  was  reached.  The 
former  introduced  M.  Worth  to  Empress 
Eugenie,  for  whom,  and  for  the  ladies  of 
whose  court,  he  designed  state,  dinner,  and 
fancy  costumes. 

That  M.  Worth  possessed  rare  artistic 
taste  aside  from  dressmaking  is  evidenced 
in  the  beauty  of  his  rural  home  at  Suresnes 
on  the  Seine,  seven  and  a  half  miles  from 
Paris.  It  is  a  superb  work  of  harmony  and 
is  like  a  charming  mosaic,  every  piece 
fitting  into  every  other  piece.  He  was  his 
own  architect,  designer,  upholsterer,  and 
gardener.  His  villa  lies  beneath  Mt.  Vale- 
rien,  one  of  the  finest  sites  near  Paris,  and 
the  outlook  on  the  Seine,  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne,  and  Paris,  is  a  dream  of  beauty. 

Hurriedly  passing  down  the  Rue  de  la 
Paix,  the  stately  Column  Vendome  in  the 
vista,  the  Harris  party  entered  M.  Worth's 
establishment,  to  which  women,  from 
actress  to  empress,  make  pilgrimages  from 
the  end  of  the  world. 

What  a  medley  of  people  were  already 
assembled!  English  duchesses,  Russian 
princesses,  Austrians,  Spanish  and  Levan 
tine  aristocracy;  wives  and  daughters  of 
American  railroad  kings,  of  oil  magnates, 
and  of  coal  barons ;  brunette  beauties  from 


298    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

India,  Japan,  South  America,  and  even 
fair  Australians,  all  unconsciously  assum 
ing  an  air  of  ecstasy  as  they  revelled  in 
the  fabric  and  fashion  of  dress ;  and  stalk 
ing  among  them,  that  presiding  genius,  M. 
Worth,  who  in  his  mitre- shaped  cap  of 
black  velvet,  and  half  mantle  or  robe, 
strikingly  resembled  the  great  painter 
Hogarth. 

Mrs.  Harris  sent  forward  her  letter  of 
introduction  from  her  husband's  New 
York  banker,  and  soon  she  and  her  friends 
were  ushered  into  the  presence  of  M. 
Worth  himself.  He  seemed  very  gracious, 
asking  about  several  good  friends  of  his 
in  America,  and  added,  "  Americans  are 
my  best  clients,  though  we  dispatch  dresses 
to  all  parts  of  the  world. ' ' 

Gertrude  inquired  as  to  the  origin  of 
fashion.  M.  Worth  answered  cautiously, 
"When  new  fabrics  or  designs  of  material 
are  invented,  some  require  a  severe  style, 
and  some  are  adapted  for  draperies,  puf 
fings,  etc.,  and  then  the  stage  has  great 
influence  over  fashion. ' ' 

May  Ingram  said,  "Mr.  Worth,  how  do 
you  arrange  designs ?"  He  answered,  "All 
my  models  are  first  made  in  black  and 
white  muslin,  and  then  copied  in  the  mate- 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  299 

rial  and  coloring  which  I  select.  In  a  studio 
our  models  are  photographed  for  future 
reference. " 

Saying  this,  he  excused  himself  to  wel 
come  new  arrivals,  first  having  placed  the 
Harrises  in  charge  of  a  competent  assis 
tant.  M.  Worth's  many  rooms  were  plainly 
furnished  with  counters  for  measuring 
materials.  The  floors  were  covered  with  a 
gray  and  black  carpet,  in  imitation  of  a 
tiger's  skin,  with  a  scarlet  border.  Several 
young  women  dressed  in  the  latest  style 
of  morning,  visiting,  dinner,  and  reception 
toilets,  passed  up  and  down  before  clients 
to  enable  them  to  judge  of  effects.  Mrs. 
Harris  explained  that  one  daughter  de 
sired,  at  an  early  date,  a  wedding  dress  and 
that  the  other  members  of  her  party 
wanted  gowns. 

Friday  and  Saturday  were  occupied  at 
Worth's  in  selecting  dresses,  and  elsewhere 
in  search  of  gloves  and  other  essentials.  A 
delightful  hour  was  spent  among  the  many 
makers  of  artificial  flowers.  Skilled  fingers 
make  from  wire  and  silk  stems  and  sta 
mens  and  dies,  shape  leaves  and  petals 
which  are  darkened  by  a  camel's  hair  pen 
cil,  or  lightened  by  a  drop  of  water. 
Capable  botanists  and  chemists  are  em- 


300    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

ployed,  and  nature  herself  is  rivaled  in 
delicate  construction  and  fragrance  even. 

In  their  round  of  shopping,  the  Harrises 
saw  an  ideal  robe  being  made  for  an 
American  belle.  It  was  composed  entirely 
of  flowers,  a  skirt  of  roses  of  different 
tints,  with  a  waist  of  lovely  rose  buds,  and 
over  all  a  veil  with  crystal  drops  in  imita 
tion  of  the  morning  dew.  "A  gem  of  a 
dress  for  some  fairy,"  thought  Lucille. 

Promptly  at  six  o'clock  Gertrude  and 
Lucille  drove  to  the  railway  station,  and 
welcomed  back  George  and  Colonel  Harris, 
and  after  dinner  all  went  to  the  opera. 
Between  the  acts  Gertrude  and  George 
told  much  of  their  late  experiences.  George 
said  that  Colonel  Harris  had  become 
greatly  interested  in  their  scheme  to  build 
in  America  an  ideal  plant  and  town,  and 
that  he  was  anxious  to  return  home  as  he 
felt  that  one's  work  must  be  done  early, 
as  life  was  short  at  best. 

Gertrude  explained  to  George  all  that 
had  been  done  in  preparing  for  the  wed 
ding,  and  said  that  she  would  be  ready 
soon,  that  her  mother  and  Lucille  approved 
of  their  wedding  trip  of  two  weeks  in 
Switzerland,  and  then  Gertrude  added,  "T 
shall  be  ready,  George,  when  you  are,  to 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  301 

return  to  America  and  to  aid  you  all  I 
can." 

Colonel  Harris  suggested  a  ride  to 
Versailles,  and  Monday  morning  at  nine 
o'clock  Gaze's  coach  and  four  drove  to 
the  Grand  Hotel,  and  six  outside  seats 
which  had  been  reserved  for  the  Harris 
party  were  filled.  The  coachman  drove 
down  the  Avenue  de  1'Opera  and  into  the 
Place  du  Carrousel,  stopping  a  moment 
that  all  might  admire  the  artistic  pavilions 
of  the  Louvre,  and  the  statue  to  the  mem 
ory  of  Leon  Gambetta,  "Father  of  the 
Republic."  Thence  they  rode  out  of  the 
Court  of  the  Tuileries,  across  the  Place 
de  la  Concord,  and  down  the  charming 
Champs  Elysees.  On  the  left  stands  the 
Palais  de  1 'Industrie,  where  the  salon  or 
annual  exhibition  of  modern  paintings  and 
sculptures  occurs  in  May  and  June.  On  the 
right  is  the  Palais  de  PElysee,  the  official 
residence  of  the  French  president. 

George  recalled  that  in  these  gardens 
of  Paris,  in  1814,  Emperors  Alexander  and 
Francis,  King  Frederick  III.,  and  others 
sang  a  Te  Deum,  in  thanksgiving  for  their 
great  victory  over  Napoleon  I. ;  that  here 
the  English,  Prussian,  and  Russian  troops 
bivouacked,  and  that  in  the  spring  of  1871, 


302    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Emperor  William  and  his  brilliant  staff 
led  the  German  troops  beneath  the  Arc  de 
Triomphe,  while  the  German  bands  played 
"Die  Wacht  am  Bhine." 

The  coach  passed  through  the  Bois  de 
Boulogne,  in  sight  of  lovely  lakes,  quaint 
old  windmills,  and  across  famous  Long- 
champs,  where  after  the  Franco-German 
War  under  a  bright  sky,  in  the  presence 
of  the  French  president,  his  cabinet,  the 
senate  and  chamber  of  deputies,  in  full 
dress,  and  a  million  of  enthusiastic  citizens, 
Grevy  and  Gambetta  presented  several 
hundred  silk  banners  to  the  French  army. 
Thence  the  drive  was  along  the  left  bank 
of  the  river  till  the  ruins  of  St.  Cloud  were 
reached,  where  Napoleon  III.  unwittingly 
signed  his  abdication  when  he  declared  war 
against  Prussia. 

Climbing  the  hills  through  fine  old 
forests  after  fourteen  miles  of  travel  south 
west  of  Paris,  the  coach  reached  Versailles. 
Here  that  magnificent  monarch,  Louis 
XIV.  lavished  hundreds  of  millions  on 
palaces,  parks,  fountains,  and  statues,  and 
here  the  Harrises  studied  the  brilliant 
pictorial  history  of  France.  In  the  Grand 
Gallery,  which  commands  beautiful  views 
of  garden  and  water,  are  effective  paint 
ings  in  the  ceiling,  which  represent  the 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  303 

splendid  achievements  of  Louis  XIV.  In 
this  same  Hall  of  Glass,  beneath  Le  Brim's 
color  history  of  the  defeat  of  the  Germans 
by  the  French,  occurred  in  1871  a  bit  of 
fine  poetic  justice,  when  King  William  of 
Prussia,  with  the  consent  of  the  German 
States,  was  saluted  as  Emperor  of  reunited 
Germany.  After  visiting  the  Grand  Trianon 
the  home  of  Madame  de  Maintenon,  the 
coach  returned  via  Sevres,  famous  for  its 
wonderful  porcelain,  and  reached  Paris  at 
sunset.  The  day  was  one  long  to  be  remem 
bered. 

The  Paris  mornings  were  spent  either 
in  visits  to  the  Louvre  or  in  driving. 
George  and  Gertrude  walked  much  in  Paris. 
Monday  morning  all  resolved  to  enjoy  on 
foot  the  Boulevards  from  the  Grand  Hotel 
to  the  Place  de  la  Republique.  It  was  a 
field-day  for  the  women,  for  every  shop 
had  its  strong  temptation,  and  the  world 
seemed  on  dress-parade.  Boulevard  des 
Italiens  in  Paris  is  the  most  frequented 
and  fashionable.  Here  are  located  hand 
some  hotels  and  cafes,  and  many  of  the 
choicest  and  most  expensive  shops.  Several 
of  these  were  visited,  and  many  presents 
were  sent  back  to  the  hotel  for  friends  at 
home. 

At  noon  the  Harrises  took  a  simple  lunch 


304   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

at  one  of  the  popular  Duval  restaurants. 
While  the  ladies  continued  their  purchases, 
Colonel  Harris  and  George  visited  the 
Bourse,  or  exchange,  a  noble  building. 
Business  at  this  stock  exchange  opens  at 
twelve  o'clock  and  closes  at  three  o'clock. 
The  loud  vociferations  of  brokers,  the 
quick  gestures  of  excited  speculators,  and 
the  babel  of  tongues  produced  a  deafening 
noise,  like  that  heard  at  the  stock  ex 
change  in  New  York. 

By  appointment  the  ladies  called  at  the 
exchange,  and  a  coach  took  the  party  to 
the  Place  de  la  Republique,  where  stands 
a  superb  statue  of  the  Republic,  sur 
rounded  with  seated  figures  of  Liberty, 
Fraternity,  and  Equality.  Colonel  Harris 
had  often  noticed  these  remarkable  words 
cut  into  many  of  the  public  buildings  of 
Paris,  and  he  remarked  that  the  lesson 
taught  by  them  was  as  injurious  as  that 
taught  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
which  declares,  that  "all  men  are  created 
equal. ' ' 

Along  the  broadest  parts  of  some  boule 
vards  and  in  public  parks  many  chairs 
are  placed  for  hire.  On  all  the  boulevards 
are  numerous  pillars,  and  small  glass  stalls, 
called  kiosques,  where  newspapers  are 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  305 

sold.  The  pillars  and  kiosques  are  covered 
with  attractive  advertisements.  In  these 
kiosques  are  sold,  usually  by  women  and 
children,  many  of  the  750  papers  and 
periodicals  of  Paris.  Fifty  of  these  papers 
are  political.  The  Gazette  is  two  hundred 
and  sixty- four  years  old,  established  in 
1631.  Le  Temps,  "The  Times, "  an  evening 
paper,  is  English-like,  and  widely  known. 
Le  Journal  des  Debats,"The  Journal  of 
Debate/'  appears  in  correct  and  elegant 
language,  and  it  usually  discusses  ques 
tions  of  foreign  as  well  as  of  home  politics. 
Papers  called  Petite,  or  "Little/'  have  an 
immense  circulation.  Over  a  half  million 
copies  of  Le  Petite  Journal  are  sold  daily. 
Frenchmen  at  home  or  abroad  are  not 
happy  without  their  Figaro,  which  is  read 
for  its  news  of  amusements,  spicy  gossip, 
and  the  odor  of  the  boulevards.  The  sen 
sitive  and  powerful  press  of  Paris  has 
often  provoked  political  changes  and  rev 
olutions. 

To  study  better  the  important  revolu 
tion  for  liberty  which  occurred  on  the  ever 
memorable  14th  of  July,  1789,  the  Harrises 
drove  along  the  boulevard  till  they  ap 
proached  the  Bastille,  formerly  the  site 
of  a  castle,  or  stronghold,  used  for  a  long 


306    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

time  as  a  state  prison  for  the  confinement 
of  persons  who  fell  victims  to  the  caprice 
of  the  government. 

The  graceful  bronze  July  Column  is 
154  feet  in  height,  and  it  commemorates 
the  destruction  of  the  Bastille,  symbol  of 
despotism.  A  strong  desire  for  independ 
ence  raised  the  cry  "Down  with  the 
Bastille,"  and  the  advancing  tide  of  rev 
olution  overcame  the  moats,  the  walls,  the 
guns,  and  the  garrison,  and  freedom  was 
victorious.  On  the  column  the  names  of 
the  fallen  "July  Heroes"  are  emblazoned 
in  gilded  letters.  In  large  vaults  beneath 
are  buried  the  heroes  of  1789,  with  the 
victims  of  the  later  revolution  of  1848. 
The  capital  of  the  column  is  crowned  with 
an  artistic  Genius  of  Liberty  standing 
on  a  globe,  and  holding  in  one  hand  tbo 
broken  chains  of  slavery,  and  in  the  other 
the  torch  of  enlightenment. 

All  the  boulevards  were  crowded  with 
artisans  in  blue  blouses,  hurrying  to  their 
homes,  as  the  Harrises  drove  along  the 
quays  to  Notre  Dame.  They  were  in  time 
to  witness  the  sun  burnish  with  his  golden 
rays  the  graceful  spire,  the  majestic  tower, 
and  elegant  fagade,  and  to  enjoy  the  har 
mony  of  its  grand  organ  within.  To  know 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  307 

Notre  Dame,  founded  seven  centuries  ago, 
is  to  learn  well  the  history  of  Paris,  and 
to  study  the  monuments  of  Paris  alone, 
is  to  acquire  the  history  of  France. 

Every  day  some  of  the  Harris  party 
visited  the  vast  Louvre,  the  most  import 
ant  public  building  of  Paris,  both  archi 
tecturally  and  on  account  of  its  wonderful 
art  treasures  which  are  the  most  exten 
sive  and  valuable  in  the  world.  Thus  two 
weeks  went  swiftly  by  in  sight-seeing,  and 
in  preparation  for  the  marriage. 

The  private  parlors,  banquet  hall,  and 
several  rooms  for  guests  of  the  Grand 
Hotel  had  been  secured  for  Gertrude's 
wedding,  which  was  to  take  place  on 
George's  birthday.  Though  superstition 
for  ages  had  placed  birthdays  under  a  ban, 
yet  Gertrude  herself  preferred  this  day, 
and  all  concurred.  Beautiful  presents  had 
already  arrived  from  America,  and  letters 
from  schoolmates  and  friends,  several  of 
whom,  however,  had  sent  their  presents 
to  Harrisville.  Nearly  a  thousand  invita 
tions  in  all,  mostly  to  friends  in  America, 
had  been  mailed,  including  a  hundred  to 
friends  traveling  on  the  British  Isles,  and 
on  the  continent.  May  Ingram  had  met 
in  London  Claude  Searles,  son  of  Hugh 


308   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Searles,  and  a  graduate  of  Oxford  Univer 
sity.  She  had  an  invitation  mailed  to 
Claude,  and  he  promised  to  come. 

Alfonso  and  Leo  arrived  from  Holland 
the  night  before,  and  each  brought  paint 
ings  of  their  own  skill  as  presents.  Alfonso 
had  done  an  exquisite  full-length  portrait 
of  Gertrude  in  white,  the  dress,  the  same 
that  she  wore  at  Smith  College  graduation. 
All  wondered  about  Leo's  gift.  Gertrude 
herself  cut  the  strings,  and  pushed  back 
the  paper,  while  her  sister  Lucille  looked 
first  at  her  own  beautiful  likeness  and 
then  at  Leo.  Her  face  grew  crimson,  as 
she  said,  "Leo,  this  is  just  what  I  most 
wanted  for  Gertrude.  Thank  you!  Thank 
you!"  and  she  came  near  kissing  the 
handsome  artist. 

The  mother  had  bought  a  plentiful 
supply  of  those  things  which  daughters 
most  need.  The  father 's  gift  was  the  prom 
ised  check  for  $1000,  and  a  mysterious 
long  blue  envelope  sealed,  with  the  name 
"Mrs.  Gertrude  Ingram"  written  on  the 
outside.  Underneath  her  name  were  the 
tantalizing  words,  "To  be  opened  when  she 
reaches  New  York. ' ' 

"Oh,  I  so  wonder  what  is  inside,"  said 
Gertrude. 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  309 

May  Ingram 's  gift  was  unique;  a 
mahogany  box,  inlaid  with  the  rare  edel 
weiss,  encasing  a  Swiss  phonograph,  that 
was  adjusted  to  play  "Elsa's  Dream 
Song"  from  Lohengrin  on  Gertrude's  mar 
riage  anniversary,  till  her  golden  wedding 
should  occur. 

Next  morning  after  the  sun  had  gilded 
the  domes  and  spires  of  Paris,  the  Harrises 
sat  at  breakfast  in  a  private  room,  fra 
grant  with  fresh  cut  flowers.  Gertrude 
wore  at  her  throat  her  lover's  gift,  and 
she  never  looked  prettier  or  happier.  All 
the  morning  till  11  o'clock  everybody  was 
busy,  when  the  ushers  and  friends  began 
to  arrive.  Soon  came  the  American  ambas 
sador,  his  wife  and  children.  At  11:45  a 
bishop  of  New  York  City,  Claude  Searles 
of  London,  and  intimate  friends  of  the 
Harrises  and  George  Ingrain  followed,  till 
the  private  parlors  were  full. 

The  orchestra  of  twenty  pieces  of  Grand 
Opera  House,  stationed  in  the  reception 
hall,  played  the  " Largo"  of  Handel.  In 
the  third  parlor  from  the  ceiling  were 
suspended  ropes  or  garlands  of  smilax  and 
bride's  roses,  which  formed  a  dainty  can 
opy.  White  satin  ribbons  festooned  on  two 
rows  of  potted  marguerites  made  a  bridal 


310    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

pathway  direct  from  the  foot  of  the  stair 
way  to  the  dais  beneath  the  canopy. 

On  the  low  platform  stood  the  bishop 
and  the  manly  bridegroom  expectant,  when 
a  voice  at  the  foot  of  the  stairway,  accom 
panied  by  three  instruments,  sang  the 
Elsa's  Dream  Song.  The  wedding  party 
came  downstairs  as  the  orchestra  played 
Wagner  'sWedding  March.  The  bride  was 
dressed  in  duchess  satin  of  soft  ivory  tone, 
the  bodice  high  and  long  sleeves,  with 
trimming  of  jewelled  point  lace.  The 
bridesmaids  wore  pale  yellow  cloth,  with 
reveres  and  cuffs  of  daffodil  yellow  satin 
and  white  Venetian  point.  Mrs.  Harris 
wore  a  gown  of  heliotrope  brocaded  silk, 
trimmed  with  rich  lace  and  a  bodice  of  vel 
vet. 

The  wedding  party  took  their  places 
and  Mme.  Melba  accompanied  by  piano, 
harp,  and  violin  sang  Gounod's  "Ave 
Maria. ' ' 

The  bishop  addressed  a  few  earnest 
words  to  the  couple  before  him,  spoke  of 
responsibilities  and  obligations,  and  then 
the  formal  questions  of  marriage,  in  dis 
tinct  voice,  were  put  to  George  and 
Gertrude. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Ingram  received 


Paris  and  the  Wedding  311 

hearty  congratulations.  The  guests  retired 
to  the  banquet  hall  where  breakfast  was 
served.  One  table  with  marguerites  was 
reserved  for  bride  and  bridegroom,  ushers, 
and  bridesmaids.  Before  the  breakfast  was 
ended  the  bride  and  bridegroom  had 
escaped,  but  soon  returned,  the  bride  in  a 
traveling  gown  of  blue  cloth.  Volleys  of 
rice  followed  the  bridal  pair,  and  more 
rice  pelted  the  windows  of  the  coach  as  it 
drove  to  the  express  train  which  was 
to  convey  the  happy  pair  to  Fontaine- 
bleau  for  a  day,  and  thence  into  Switzer 
land.  In  the  evening  Colonel  Harris 
entertained  a  large  party  of  friends  at  the 
new  opera  house.  The  Harrises  next  morn 
ing  left  for  southern  France. 

Before  the  marriage  day  George  and 
Gertrude  had  carefully  provided  in  Paris 
for  the  welfare  of  May  Ingram  whom  both 
loved.  And  well  they  might,  for  May  had 
a  noble  nature,  and  her  music  teachers  in 
Boston,  who  had  exerted  their  best  efforts 
in  her  behalf,  believed  that  she  possessed 
rare  talents,  which,  if  properly  developed, 
would  some  day  make  her  conspicuous  in 
the  American  galaxy  of  primadonnas. 

They  had  secured  for  May  sunny  rooms 
at  a  pension  in  the  Boulevard  Haussmann, 


312    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

where  a  motherly  French  woman  resided 
with  her  two  daughters.  In  beautiful  Paris, 
May  Ingram  was  to  live  and  study,  hoping 
to  realize  the  dreams  of  her  childhood, 
a  first  rank  in  grand  opera. 


CHAPTER  XX 

ABOABD    THE    YACHT    "HALLENA" 

BEFORE  leaving  Paris  Colonel  Harris  was 
solicitous  that  his  son  Alfonso  should 
accompany  him  to  Rome,  and  Leo  urged 
the  artistic  advantage  of  a  trip  to  Italy,  but 
Alfonso  had  attractions  in  Holland  of 
which  the  father  knew  not.  Leo,  of  course, 
had  his  suspicion,  but  did  not  wish  to 
betray  his  friend,  and  so  Alfonso  returned 
to  the  Netherlands  ostensibly  to  study  art. 
Before  leaving  New  York  it  was  fre 
quently  stated  by  Leo  that  when  he  reached 
Rome  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  even  up 
favors  with  Alfonso  by  a  series  of  visits 
among  his  relatives,  the  famous  Colonna 
family.  While  Leo  regretted  seriously  to 
lose  this  opportunity,  he  was  quick  to  see 
that  the  change  of  plans  would  leave 
him  much  in  Lucille 's  company,  the  thing 
that  gave  him  most  pleasure.  Lucille 
before  leaving  Harrisville  had  a  severe 
attack  of  the  grip,  and  Mrs.  Harris 
hoped  the  journey  abroad  would  prove 
beneficial  to  her  health. 


314   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

The  ocean  voyage  had  brought  the  roses 
back  to  her  cheeks,  but  the  railway  trips, 
the  over-work  of  sight-seeing,  and  espec 
ially  the  excitement  of  the  Paris  wedding, 
had  renewed  frequent  complaints  of  heart 
difficulty,  and  at  night  Lucille  was  restless 
and  failed  to  secure  satisfactory  sleep.  Of 
course  the  mother  was  anxious,  and  was 
glad  when  the  express  arrived  at  Nice, 
on  the  Mediterranean.  Fortunately  this 
was  not  the  fashionable  season,  so  quiet 
quarters  were  secured  overlooking  the 
terraced  promenade,  the  small  harbor  open 
to  the  southeast,  and  the  smooth  sea 
beyond.  Here  Mrs.  Harris  hoped  that  her 
daughter  would  speedily  recover  her 
health. 

Nice  is  charmingly  situated  in  a  small 
plain  near  the  French  frontier  at  the  foot 
of  the  triple-ridged  mountains,  which 
shelter  the  city  on  the  north  and  east 
against  northern  winds,  while  the  river 
Paglion  bounds  Nice  on  the  west.  Far 
beyond  stretch  the  snow-clad  peaks  of 
the  Maritime  Alps. 

In  the  cold  season  thousands  of  foreign 
ers,  especially  the  English,  visit  this 
winter  paradise.  On  the  high  background 
are  Eoman  ruins  and  an  old  castle 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      315 

enclosed  by  bastioned  walls;  leading  to 
two  squares,  one  of  which,  is  surrounded 
with  porticoes,  are  streets  embellished 
with  theater,  public  library,  baths,  and 
handsome  homes  that  are  frescoed  exter 
nally.  In  Nice  the  patriot  Garibaldi  first 
saw  the  light,  and  just  above  the  town  on 
a  sunny  hillside  lies  buried  the  illustrious 
Gambetta. 

Lucille  was  soon  able  to  sit  on  the 
portico  and  watch  the  vessels  in  the  har 
bor  come  and  go,  also  parties  of  excur 
sionists  in  pleasure  boats,  and  well  dressed 
people  in  the  shade  of  the  great  palms  on 
the  adjacent  promenade.  Thus  hours  went 
pleasantly  by  while  Leo  often  played  de 
lightfully  on  his  guitar. 

Few  if  any  places  in  the  world  are 
like  the  Eiviera  where  in  winter  months 
royalty  and  aristocracy  gather.  Here  come 
the  gay  world  of  fashion  and  the  delicate 
in  health  to  beg  of  death  a  respite  of  a 
few  more  days.  The  physician  in  attend 
ance  upon  Lucille  advised  much  outdoor 
air,  and  frequent  coach  rides  along  the 
shore  were  taken  to  Cannes,  to  Monaco, 
and  Mentone. 

In  the  seaport  town  of  Cannes,  a  bright 
gem  set  in  groves  of  olives  and  oranges. 


316   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Napoleon  landed  from  Elba  on  the  first 
of  March,  1815.  The  tri-color  of  France 
was  again  thrown  to  the  breeze,  and  en 
route  to  Paris  Napoleon  received  on  every 
hand  the  renewed  allegiance  of  officers 
and  garrisons.  The  French  were  wild  with 
excitement,  but  Europe  was  filled  with 
amazement.  Again  France  was  conquered 
without  the  shedding  of  blood,  a  victory 
unparalleled  in  history. 

Lucille  particularly  enjoyed  the  ride  of 
eight  miles  east  along  the  peaceful  Medi 
terranean,  also  the  visit  to  Monaco,  capital 
of  the  principality  of  its  own  name,  with 
an  area  of  about  34,000  acres.  Monaco  is 
beautifully  situated  on  a  promontory  in 
the  sea,  and  has  an  attractive  palace  and 
cultivated  terraces.  The  ruling  prince 
resides  here  six  months  and  at  Paris  the 
other  six  months. 

Monte  Carlo  is  a  veritable  bit  of  para 
dise  so  far  as  nature  and  art  can  work 
wonders.  Around  this  famous  gambling 
resort  grow  aloes,  orange  trees,  and  tufted 
palms.  Within  the  handsome  casino  weak 
humanity  of  all  nationalities  is  allured  by 
glittering  promises  of  wealth.  No  wonder 
a  dozen  or  more  suicides  occur  every 
month. 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      317 

It  was  three  o'clock  on  the  sixth  day 
of  the  stay  at  Nice,  when  Colonel  Harris 
sitting  on  the  porch  of  the  hotel  and  using 
a  marine  glass,  discovered  to  the  southwest 
a  tiny  craft  rapidly  approaching  Nice. 
For  three  days  he  had  been  anxiously 
watching  and  waiting  for  the  arrival  of 
the  "Hallena,"  built  at  Harrisville  for  the 
son  of  his  special  friend  Mr.  Harry  Hall. 

Before  leaving  Paris,  Harry  Hall  Jr. 
had  invited  the  colonel's  family  to  coast 
along  the  Mediterranean  in  his  new  yacht. 
It  was  arranged  that  the  "Hallena"  should 
touch  at  Nice  and  take  aboard  the  colonel 's 
family.  Young  Mr.  Hall  was  to  rejoin  his 
yacht  at  Gibraltar,  and  doubtless  he  was 
now  aboard. 

The  colonel  grew  nervous  as  he  observed 
the  approach  of  the  little  boat.  It  had  been 
agreed  between  Harris  and  Hall  that  the 
yacht  would  fly  the  Union  Jack  at  the  bow, 
the  national  banner  at  the  flag-staff,  and 
a  streamer  bearing  the  yacht's  name  at 
the  mast-head. 

As  the  colonel  again  wiped  the  dust  from 
his  glasses,  Lucille  said, "Father, please  let 
me  try  the  glass,  perhaps  my  eyes  are  bet 
ter."  While  Lucille  eagerly  looked  toward 
the  yacht,  Leo  watched  every  motion,  as 


318    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  mention  of  young  Hall's  name  in  con 
nection  with  his  great  wealth  had  awakened 
jealousy  in  his  heart. 

Suddenly  Lucille  shouted, ' '  There  she  is ! 
I  can  see  the  stars  and  stripes;  how  wel 
come  is  the  dear  old  flag,  we  see  it  abroad 
so  rarely!" 

"Hasten,  Leo,"  said  the  colonel,  "and 
ask  the  hotel  proprietor  to  raise  the  stars 
and  stripes  over  his  hotel. ' ' 

Colonel  Harris  had  promised  Mr.  Hall 
to  do  this,  and  so  advise  him  where  the 
Harris  family  were  stopping.  No  sooner 
was  the  red,  white,  and  blue  given  to  the 
breeze  above  the  hotel,  than  a  puff  of  white 
smoke  was  seen  on  the  yacht,  and  then 
came  the  report  of  a  gun  in  response  to 
Harris's  flag  signal.  Bills  were  paid  at 
once,  and  the  Harrises  took  carriage  down 
to  the  landing.  As  the  "Hallena"  glided  in 
between  the  piers,  she  was  as  graceful  as  a 
swan,  or  as  Leo  expressed  it,  "as  pretty 
as  a  pirate. ' ' 

Harris  himself  when  at  home  saw  the 
yacht  launched,  and  he  was  as  proud  of 
her  behavior  then  as  were  the  officers  of 
the  Harrisville  Ship  Building  Company. 

The  yacht  had  now  approached  so  near 
that  Colonel  Harris  and  Harry  Hall  saluted 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      319 

each  other,  and  in  five  minutes  the  Harris 
and  Hall  parties  were  exchanging  cordial 
greetings  on  the  deck  of  the  "Hallena." 
"Captain  Hall,"  as  Harry  was  known  at 
sea,  was  very  cordial  to  all.  Colonel  Harris 
was  glad  again  to  meet  some  of  his  old 
Harrisville  business  friends. 

Luke  Henley  and  wife  were  of  the  Hall 
party.  He  was  stout,  resolute,  and  ambi 
tious;  his  wife  womanly  and  well  dressed. 
Henley  early  learned  that  money  was 
power.  Combining  what  he  fell  heir  to  with 
his  wife's  fortune,  and  what  he  had  made 
by  bold  ventures  in  the  steel,  ore,  and  coal 
trade,  he  was  enabled  to  live  in  a  fine  villa, 
overlooking  the  water,  and  to  carry  on  an 
immense  business  on  the  inland  lakes. 

His  business,  however,  was  used  as  a 
cover  to  his  real  designs  in  life.  Influential 
in  the  local  politics  of  Harrisville  he  had 
experienced  the  keen  pleasure  of  wielding 
the  silver  sceptre  of  power,  and  he  longed 
not  only  to  be  the  "power  behind  the 
throne, ' '  but  to  sit  on  the  throne  itself  and 
guide  the  Ship  of  State. 

Major  Williams  also  was  one  of  the 
"Hallena"  party.  He  was  young,  slender, 
and  had  a  cheerful  smile  for  everybody.  He 
had  climbed  to  the  presidency  of  the  Har- 


320    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

risville  Bank  which  had  thousands  of 
depositors,  and  which  wielded  a  gigantic 
financial  power. 

It  was  decided  not  to  start  for  Genoa  till 
the  next  morning.  Dinner  was  soon 
announced  and  Captain  Hall  offered  his 
arm  to  Lucille,  whom  he  placed  at  his  right 
hand,  and  Mrs.  Harris  at  his  left.  The 
dinner  hour  and  part  of  the  evening  were 
spent  in  pleasant  reminiscences  of  what 
each  had  seen  since  leaving  Harrisville. 
The  marriage  of  George  Ingram  and  Ger 
trude  was  also  a  suggestive  topic,  and  many 
agreeable  things  were  spoken.  Captain  Hall 
was  present  at  the  Paris  wedding,  and  it 
was  the  stately  beauty  of  Lucille  more  than 
all  else  that  prompted  him  to  invite  the 
Harrises  to  take  the  Mediterranean  cruise. 

Some  of  the  mothers  of  fine  daughters  in 
Harrisville  had  exhausted  their  wits  in 
trying  to  entrap  Harry  Hall,  who  was  im 
partially  attentive  to  all,  but  was  never 
known  to  pay  marked  attention  to  any 
young  lady.  That  Captain  Hall  should  over 
look  the  other  women  on  the  yacht,  and 
place  Lucille  at  his  right  hand  was  so 
marked  that  Major  Williams  after  dinner, 
lighting  his  cigar,  said,  "Henley,  why 
wouldn't  Harry  and  Lucille  make  a  good 


Aboard  the  Yacht  ^Hdllena"      321 


match?"  "Lucille  is  a  beautiful  girl,"  was 
all  Henley  said,  and  as  the  lights  of  Nice 
disappeared,  the  "Hallena"  party  retired 
for  the  night. 

An  early  breakfast  was  ordered  as 
everybody  wished  to  be  early  on  deck  to 
witness  the  yacht's  departure  for  Genoa. 
As  the  "Hallena"  responded  to  her  helm, 
the  United  States  consul  at  Nice  hoisted 
and  lowered  the  flag  thrice,  as  a  bon  voyage 
to  the  American  yacht,  and  the  consul 
queried  whether  the  American  statesman 
was  yet  born  who  was  wise  enough  to 
introduce  and  maintain  such  a  national 
policy  as  would  multiply  his  country's 
commerce  and  flag  on  the  sea.  Patriotic 
Americans  stopping  at  Monaco  also  re 
sponded  with  flag  and  gun,  as  the  "Hal 
lena"  steamed  swiftly  away. 

The  sun  had  reached  the  zenith,  when 
Captain  Hall  sighted  Genoa,  and  he  called 
Lucille  to  stand  with  him  on  the  bridge. 
* '  Superb  Genoa !  Worthy  birthplace  of  our 
Columbus,"  said  Lucille. 

"Yes,"  said  Harry,  "Genoa  is  older 
than  Rome;  she  was  the  rival  of  Venice, 
and  the  mother  of  colonies." 

As  the  "Hallena"  approached  this 
strongly  fortified  city  of  northern  Italy, the 


322    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

capacious  harbor  was  a  forest  of  masts,  and 
a  crazy-quilt  of  foreign  flags,  but  not  one 
ship  was  flying  the  stars  and  stripes,  a  fact 
which  saddened  the  hearts  of  the  tourists. 
The* ' Hallena ' ' steamed  past  the  lighthouse 
and  moles  that  protect  the  harbor,  and  all 
the  guests  of  Captain  Hall  stood  on  the 
forward  deck  admiring  the  city  with  its 
palaces,  churches,  white  blocks,  and  pictur 
esque  villas  that  occupy  land  which 
gradually  rises  and  recedes  from  the  bay. 

On  landing,  the  officials  were  very 
courteous,  and  gave  Captain  Hall  and  his 
party  no  trouble  when  it  was  learned  that 
that  "Hallena"  brought  travelers  only. 
The  Genoese  are  very  proud  of  their  city 
and  its  past  history,  and  they  are  courteous 
to  Americans,  especially  so  since  the 
Columbian  World's  Fair. 

The  tourists  found  the  streets  in  the 
older  part  of  Genoa  narrow,  seldom  more 
than  ten  feet  wide,  with  lofty  buildings  on 
either  side.  But  in  the  new  portions,  espec 
ially  on  the  wide  Strada  Nuova  and  the 
Strada  Balbi,  the  palaces  and  edifices 
present  fine  architecture. 

Nearly  a  day  was  spent  in  driving  about 
Genoa  with  its  flower-crowned  terraces. 
It  was  after  five  o'clock  when  the  party 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      323 

stood  before  the  noble  statue  of  Columbus 
recently  dedicated  in  a  prominent  square 
filled  with  palms  and  flowering  shrubs, 
and  near  the  principal  railway  station. 
Here  the  statue  welcomes  the  coming  and 
speeds  the  parting  guest.  Its  design  is 
admirable.  Surmounting  a  short  shaft  is 
Columbus  leaning  upon  an  anchor,  and 
pointing  with  his  right  hand  to  the  figure 
of  America;  below  him  are  discerned  en 
circling  the  shaft  ornaments  symbolic  of 
Columbus 's  little  fleet,  while  other  statues 
represent  science,  religion,  courage,  and 
geography;  between  them  are  scenes  in 
bass-relief  of  his  adventurous  career. 

Dinner  was  taken  aboard  the  yacht  as 
it  steamed  away  from  Genoa,  The  flowers 
that  Harry  had  bought  for  Lucille 's  state 
room  she  thoughtfully  placed  on  the  table, 
and  with  the  porcelain  they  added  artistic 
effect.  The  day's  experiences  were  re 
viewed,  and,  as  the  appetizing  courses 
were  served,  the  conversation  drifted  back 
to  the  World's  Columbian  Fair  which  all 
had  attended.  Many  of  the  wonders  of  the 
"White  City"  were  recounted,  and  Henley 
in  his  off-hand  manner  repeated  a  compli 
ment  which  was  paid  by  a  cultivated 
Parisian  who  visited  the  Fair.  The  French- 


324   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

man  said  that  at  the  last  Paris  Exposi 
tion,  he  saw  immense  and  unsightly 
structures,  such  as  one  might  expect  to 
find  in  far-off  Chicago,  but  that  at  the 
Columbian  World's  Fair,  he  beheld  build 
ings  such  as  his  own  artistic  Paris  and 
France  should  have  furnished;  that  the 
Columbian  Fair  was  an  artistic  triumph 
that  had  never  been  paralleled  except  in 
the  days  of  imperial  Borne  by  her  grand 
temples,  palaces,  arches,  bridges,  and 
statues. 

"The  Parisian  is  right,  and  he  pays 
America  a  most  deserved  compliment. 
Never  was  so  elegant  a  panorama  enrolled 
as  at  Chicago,"  responded  Colonel  Harris. 

"You  are  correct,  Colonel,"  said  Cap 
tain  Hall,  "the  triumph  of  our  Exposition 
was  largely  due  to  the  masterly  supervi 
sion  which  evoked  uniformity  of  design  and 
harmonious  groupings  by  employing  only 
those  of  our  architects,  sculptors,  painters, 
and  landscape  gardeners,  who  possessed 
the  highest  skill. ' ' 

Leo  ventured  to  add  that  the  "White 
City"  seemed  to  him  dream-like  and  that 
under  the  magical  influence  of  Columbus, 
as  patron-saint,  all  nationality,  creed,  and 
sex,  were  harmoniously  blended  in  ideal 
beauty  and  grandeur. 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      325 

Lucille,  who  had  just  sipped  the  last 
of  her  chocolate,  also  bore  testimony,  and 
Harry  watched  her  admiringly  as  she 
said,  "At  times,  especially  in  the  evening, 
when  thousands  of  incandescent  lights  out 
lined  the  Court  of  Honor  with  its  golden 
Goddess  of  the  Republic  and  the  fagades, 
turrets,  and  domes,  it  seemed  to  some  of 
us  as  if  we  had  stepped  out  upon  a 
neighboring  planet,  where  civilization  and 
art  had  been  purified,  or  that  the  veil  was 
lifted  and  we  were  gazing  upon  the 
glories  of  the  New  Jerusalem. " 

The  ladies  now  sought  the  deck  of  the 
"Hallena,"  and  were  soon  followed  by  the 
gentlemen,  who  smoked  their  fragrant 
Havanas,  enjoying  every  moment's  vaca 
tion  from  business  anxieties  at  home.  The 
yacht,  like  a  slender  greyhound,  in  charge 
of  the  first  officer  was  swiftly  running 
towards  the  Isle  of  Elba,  en  route  to 
Naples.  The  stars  never  shone  more  brill 
iantly  in  the  Italian  sky,  and  land  breezes 
were  mingling  their  rich  odors  with  the 
salt  sea  air. 

The  spell  of  Columbus 's  great  discovery 
stirred  the  soul  of  Harry  Hall.  Holding 
his  half-smoked  cigar,  he  repeated  the 
familiar  couplet, 


326    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

"Man's  inhumanity  to  man 
Makes  countless  thousands  mourn." 

"Strange  that  four  centuries  go  by 
before  even  Genoa  erects  his  monument, 
which  we  have  admired  today;  though 
monuments  to  the  memory  of  Columbus 
have  been  erected  in  many  cities,  yet,  how 
tardy  the  world  was  to  appreciate  the 
value  of  Columbus 's  discovery,  a  third  of 
the  land  of  the  globe.  How  pitiful  the 
last  days  of  Columbus,  who,  old  and  ill, 
returning  in  1504  from  his  fourth  voyage 
to  the  new  world,  found  his  patroness 
Isabella  dying,  and  Ferdinand  heartless. 
With  no  money  to  pay  his  bills,  Columbus 
died  May  20th,  1505,  in  poor  quarters  at 
Valladolid,  his  last  words  being,  'Into  thy 
hands,  0  Lord,  I  commit  my  spirit.'  It  is 
now  natural  perhaps  that  many  cities 
should  claim  his  birth  and  his  bones. " 

"Yes/'  said  Lucille,  "how  encouraging 
some  of  the  world's  kind  epitaphs  would 
be  if  they  were  only  spoken  before  death 
came.  Two  hemispheres  now  eagerly  study 
the  inspiring  story  of  Columbus 's  faith, 
courage,  perseverance,  and  success." 

Henley  said,  "Captain  Hall,  you  are 
young  yet,  but  by  the  time  you  reach  my 
age  you  will  have  little  use  for  the  senti- 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      327 

ment  young  people  so  often  indulge  in. 
When  New  York  tries  her  hand  with 
expositions  she  will  doubtless  deal  with 
facts.  The  truth  is,  Columbus  was  human 
like  the  rest  of  us,  and  followed  in  the 
wake  of  others  for  his  own  personal 
aggrandizement.  He  was  not  the  first  man 
to  discover  America.  The  Norsemen  ante 
dated  him  by  five  centuries. ' ' 

'  *  What  if  the  Norsemen  did  first  discover 
America?"  said  Colonel  Harris.  "The  dis 
coveries  of  the  vikings  were  not  utilized 
by  civilization.  It  is  held  by  the  courts 
that  a  patent  is  valid  only  in  the  name 
of  the  inventor  who  first  gives  the  inven 
tion  a  useful  introduction.  Columbus 's 
discovery  was  fortunately  made  at  a  time 
when  civilization  was  able  with  men  and 
money  to  follow  up  and  appropriate  its 
advantages. ' ' 

"The  true  discoverer  of  America,"  said 
Henley,  "I  believe  to  be  Jean  Cousin,  a 
sea  captain  of  Dieppe,  France,  who  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  sailed  into  the  Amazon 
Kiver  in  1488,  four  years  before  Columbus 
reached  San  Salvador.  Then  Spain,  Portu 
gal,  the  States  of  the  Church,  Ferdinand, 
Isabella,  and  Columbus  attempted  to  rob 
Cousin  of  his  bold  adventure.  In  brief  these 


328    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

are  the  facts:  Jean  Cousin  was  an  able 
and  scientific  navigator.  In  1487  his  skill 
so  contributed  in  securing  a  naval  victory 
for  the  French  over  the  English  that  the 
reward  for  his  personal  valor  was  the 
gift  of  an  armed  ship  from  the  merchants 
of  Dieppe,  who  expected  him  to  go  forth 
in  search  of  new  discoveries.* 

"In  January,  1488,  Cousin  sailed  west 
out  into  the  Atlantic,  and  south,  for  two 
months  with  Vincent  Pinzon  a  practical 
sailor,  second  in  command.  He  sailed  up 
the  Amazon  River,  secured  strange  birds, 
feathers,  spices,  and  unknown  woods,  and 
returned  to  the  coast  of  Africa  for  a  cargo 
of  ivory,  oil,  skins,  and  gold  dust.  Pinzon 
quarreled  with  the  natives,  fired  upon  them, 
and  seized  some  of  their  goods,  so  that 
they  fled  and  would  not  come  back  to  him. 
He  thus  lost  a  valuable  return  cargo.  At 
Dieppe  the  merchants  were  enraged;  Pin 
zon  was  tried  by  court  martial  for 
imperilling  the  trade  of  Africa,  and  ban 
ished  from  French  soil.  He  thirsted  for 
revenge  and  went  back  to  Palos  to  tell  his 
brothers  Alonzo  and  Martin,  shipowners, 
of  the  mighty  Amazon;  often  they  specu- 

*The  True  Discovery  of  America.  Captain  R.  N.  Gam- 
bier.  Fortnightly  Review ',  January  I,  1894. 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      329 

Jated  as  to  the  vast  lands  which  the 
Amazon  drained. 

"Columbus,  discouraged,  ridiculed,  and 
begging  his  way,  started  out  to  meet  at 
Huelva  his  brother-in-law  and  secure  prom 
ised  help,  so  that  he  could  visit  France. 
Suddenly  he  changed  his  route,  stopped  at 
the  little  convent  La  Rabida,  met  Juan 
Perez,  who  knew  Queen  Isabella,  and  Fern 
andez  the  priest,  the  latter  a  close  friend 
of  the  three  Pinzon  brothers.  Columbus 
got  what  he  wanted  at  court,  returned  to 
Pal os,  and  with  the  Pinzon  brothers  sailed 
west,  with  Vincent  Pinzon,  Cousin's  ship 
mate,  as  pilot.  The  conclusion  that  Jean 
Cousin,  and  not  Columbus  first  discovered 
America,  seems  irresistible.  Pope  Alexan 
der  VI.,  by  Papal  bull,  had  already 
divided  all  the  new  discoveries  made, 
between  Catholic  Spain  and  Portugal. 
Dieppe  and  France  were  in  the  Pope's 
black  books.  What  chance  of  recognition 
had  Cousin  against  Columbus,  the  protege 
of  this  Pope?" 

"You  seem  to  win  your  case,"  said 
Major  Williams,  "what  romance  in  history 
will  be  left  us?  William  Tell  is  now  a  myth, 
and  Washington's  little  hatchet  story  is  no 


330    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Lucille  quieted  Leo  with  a  smile,  cigars 
were  thrown  overboard,  the  light  on  the 
Isle  of  Elba  was  visible,  and  all  retired  for 
the  night,  while  the  alert  yacht,  like  a 
whirring  night-hawk,  flew  on  towards 
Naples. 

On  the  yacht  * '  Hallena ' '  early  to  bed  and 
early  to  rise  was  an  unwritten  law.  By 
six  o'clock  next  morning,  breakfast  had 
been  served,  and  the  tourists  were  on  deck 
with  glasses,  each  anxious  to  discover 
objects  of  interest.  During  the  night  busy 
Leghorn  on  the  coast,  and  Pisa,  and  Flor 
ence  up  the  Arno,  were  left  behind.  Leo 
was  proud  of  sunny  and  artistic  Italy  and 
he  much  desired  that  Lucille  should  see 
at  Pisa  the  famous  white  marble  leaning 
tower,  with  its  beautiful  spiral  colonnades ; 
its  noble  cathedral  and  baptistry,  the 
latter  famous  for  its  wonderful  echo,  and 
the  celebrated  cemetery  made  of  earth 
brought  from  the  Holy  Land.  At  Florence 
she  should  see  the  stupendous  Duomo,  with 
the  Brunelleschi  dome  that  excited  the 
emulation  of  Michael  Angelo;  the  bronze 
gates  of  Ghiberti,  "worthy  to  be  the  gates 
of  paradise,"  and  the  choice  collections  of 
art  in  the  Pitti  Palace  and  the  Uffizi  Gal 
lery  connected  by  Porte  Vecchio.  But  Leo 


Aboard  the  Yacht  "Hallena"      331 

contented  himself  with,  the  thought  that 
when  the  yacht  episode  was  over,  and 
Harry  Hall  had  passed  out  of  sight,  he 
could  then  take  Lucille  over  Italy  to  enjoy 
a  thousand-and-one  works  of  art,  including 
masterpieces  by  such  artists  as  Michael 
Angelo,  Raphael,  Titian,  Correggio,  Guido, 
and  others. 

Lucille  had  studied  art  in  Boston,  and 
she  was  fond  of  Leo  because  he  passion 
ately  loved  art  and  could  assist  her.  She 
began  to  comprehend  what  Aristotle  meant 
when  he  defined  art  as  "the  reason 
of  the  thing,  without  the  matter, ' '  or  Emer 
son,  "the  conscious  utterance  of  thought, 
by  speech,  or  action,  to  any  end. ' ' 


CHAPTER    XXI 

TWO  UNANSWERED  LETTERS 

DURING  the  night  the  yacht  "Hallena"  had 
steamed  down  through  the  Channel  Piom- 
bino,  and  the  Tuscan  Archipelago,  studded 
with  islands,  and  had  passed  Rome,  the 
Eternal  City. 

"Naples  cannot  be  far  off,"  thought  Leo, 
for  to  the  southeast  is  seen  the  smoking 
torch  of  Mt.  Vesuvius,  southwest  is  the 
island  of  Ischia  with  its  extinct  volcano, 
and  beyond  is  Cape  Miseno.  The  "Hallena" 
cautiously  felt  her  way  among  the  luxuri 
ant  islands  that  guard  the  broad  and 
beautiful  Bay  of  Naples  and  the  Siren 
City.  Her  passengers  had  ample  opportun 
ity  to  study  the  attractions  of  this  justly 
celebrated  locality. 

Vesuvius,  reflected  in  the  smooth  waters 
of  the  bay,  lifts  high  her  peak,  the  ascend 
ing  smoke  coloring  the  white  clouds  above. 
At  her  feet  lies  ancient  Hurculaneum, 
submerged  on  the  24th  of  August,  A.  D, 
79,  by  a  flood  of  molten  lava. 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         333 

Nearer  the  bay  and  only  five  miles 
from  the  volcano,  is  ancient  Pompeii,  which 
was  overwhelmed  by  the  same  eruption  of 
Vesuvius.  Pompeii  was  buried,  not  with 
lava,  but  with  tufa,  ashes  and  scoriae, 
and  since  1755  has  thus  been  the  more 
easily  and  extensively  uncovered.  This 
ancient  Roman  city  was  enclosed  by  walls 
and  entered  by  several  gates.  Its  numer 
ous  streets  were  paved  with  lava.  The 
traveler  of  today  beholds  uncovered  the 
one  story  and  terraced  houses,  shops, 
mansions,  the  market  place,  temples, 
theatres,  and  baths.  In  some  of  the  houses 
were  found  furniture,  statues,  paintings, 
books,  medals,  urns,  jewels,  utensils,  manu 
scripts,  etc.,  all  less  injured  than  one 
would  suppose. 

Today  more  modern  towns  are  located 
about  the  curved  shore  of  this  unrivaled 
bay.  The  sparkling  waters,  the  winding 
shore,  the  bold  cliffs,  the  threatening  lava 
cone,  the  buried  cities,  all  combine  under 
the  bluest  skies  to  make  the  Bay  of  Naples 
a  Mecca  for  worshipers  of  the  beautiful. 

On  the  deck  of  the  "Hallena"  stood  the 
group    of    American    tourists,    enchanted 
with  the  picturesque  environment  of  his 
toric  Naples.  The  city  is  built  along  the 


334   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

shore  and  up  the  sides  of  adjacent  moun 
tains.  A  mole,  with  lighthouse,  projects 
into  the  bay  and  forms  a  small  harbor. 

The  sun  had  climbed  towards  the  zenith, 
and  shone  full  upon  this  fair  city,  as  the 
yacht  entered  the  harbor.  Many  of  the 
buildings  are  white,  five  or  six  stories  in 
height,  with  flat  roofs  covered  with  plants 
and  shrubbery.  If  the  weather  is  favorable 
the  inmates  resort  at  sunset  to  their  roof- 
gardens  to  enjoy  lovely  views  and  the 
cool  breezes  from  the  bay. 

The  Spiaggia,  a  popular  thoroughfare, 
is  adorned  with  statues,  and  extends  along 
the  shore  to  the  Tomb  of  Virgil,  and  the 
mole.  It  is  crowded  every  evening  with 
Neapolitans  in  equipages,  some  elegant, 
and  some  grotesque. 

Two  or  three  days  were  spent  in  study 
ing  the  palaces  and  art  galleries  of 
Naples.  Of  special  interest  is  the  national 
Museo  Borbonico,  which  is  remarkable 
for  its  collection  of  antiquities.  In  the 
palmy  days  of  Koine,  Naples  was  a  luxu 
rious  retreat  for  emperors  and  wealthy 
citizens  of  the  great  empire.  Naples  was 
the  scene  of  a  most  disgraceful  outrage 
in  May,  1848,  when  it  was  plundered  by 
the  Lazzaroni,  or  Begging  Community, 
and  fifteen  hundred  lives  were  lost. 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         335 

When  the  sight-seeing  in  Naples  wag 
completed  Captain  Hall  offered  to  take 
the  Harrises  in  his  yacht  back  to  Rome, 
but  his  offer  was  declined.  Good-byes  were 
cordially  exchanged  and  the  "Hallena" 
steamed  south  to  Palermo,  en  route  to 
Athens  and  other  Levantine  cities,  while 
the  Harrises  took  the  express  for  Rome. 

Leo  was  glad  to  see  the  "Hallena"  steam 
away,  and  to  be  with  Lucille  aboard  a 
train  moving  towards  Rome.  When  the 
station  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city  was 
reached,  a  carriage  conveyed  the  Harrises 
along  the  Corso  which  at  the  hour  of 
their  driving  was  enlivened  by  many 
vehicles  and  foot-passengers. 

Leo  told  Lucille  of  the  popular  festivals 
at  Rome,  especially  of  the  Carnival  that 
extends  over  several  days,  which  consists 
of  daily  processions  in  the  Corso,  accom 
panied  by  the  throwing  of  bouquets  and 
comfits ;  the  whole  concluding  with  a  horse 
race  from  the  Piazza  del  Popolo  to  Piazza 
di  Venezia,  upwards  of  a  mile.  On  the 
last,  or  the  Moccoli  evening,  tapers  are 
lighted  immediately  after  sunset.  Balconies 
most  suitable  for  observing  these  animated 
scenes  are  expensive,  but  always  in  great 
demand,  especially  by  tourists. 

Colonel  Harris  took  his  family  and  Leo 


336    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

to  an  excellent  hotel  on  the  Piazza  de 
Popolo.  The  weather  being  uncomfortably 
warm,  it  was  decided  to  spend  only  a  few 
days  in  the  city,  and  go  as  soon  as 
possible  to  the  country.  Leo  was  very 
familiar  with  Eome,  ancient  and  modern, 
and  he  felt  that  weeks  were  absolutely 
necessary  to  study  and  comprehend  the 
grandeur  of  a  city  that  for  so  many 
centuries  had  been  mistress  of  the  world. 
He  agreed  with  Niebuhr,  "As  the  streams 
lose  themselves  in  the  mightier  ocean,  so 
the  history  of  the  people  once  distrib 
uted  along  the  Mediterranean  shores  is 
absorbed  in  that  of  the  mighty  mistress 
of  the  world." 

Leo  back  again  in  Rome  was  in  an 
ecstasy  of  joy.  Here  Greece  had  laid  at 
the  feet  of  Eome  her  conqueror,  the 
accumulated  art  treasures  of  ages.  Here 
Leo  could  have  keenest  delight,  where  he 
moved  among  the  noblest  examples  of 
antique  sculpture,  which  filled  the  galleries 
and  chambers  of  the  Vatican  and  Capitol. 
Most  of  the  night  he  lay  awake,  planning 
how  he  could  in  so  short  a  time  exhibit 
to  his  American  friends  Eome  and  her 
wealth  of  art.  At  breakfast  he  said,  "A 
whole  day  is  needed  to  inspect  the  Forum 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         337 

Bomanum,  a  day  each,  for  the  Capitoline 
Hill,  the  Appian  Way,  and  many  other 
historic  localities  in  this  seven-hilled  city. ' ' 

Leo,  acting  as  guide,  took  his  party  to 
the  Pincian  Hill  near  the  northern  wall, 
a  fashionable  resort  with  fine  boulevards 
and  frequent  band  music.  From  the  sum 
mit,  he  pointed  out  the  yellow  Tiber, 
which  winds  for  seventeen  miles  to  the 
sea.  The  larger  part  of  modern  Eome 
lies  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Tiber,  and 
covers  three  historic  hills.  Towering  above 
the  tops  of  the  buildings  are  the  domes 
and  spires  of  nearly  four  hundred  churches 
of  which  the  dome  of  St.  Peter's  is  the 
most  imposing.  In  sight  beyond  are  the 
Capitol,  the  ruins  of  the  Colosseum,  and 
ancient  tombs  along  the  Appian  Way.  To 
the  west  on  the  Palatine  Hill  are  the 
ruins  of  the  palace  of  the  Caesars,  and 
outside  the  walls,  on  the  broad  Campagna, 
are  the  remains  of  several  aqueducts  con 
verging  on  the  city,  some  of  which, 
restored,  are  in  use  today. 

The  day's  ride  included  a  visit  to 
Agrippa's  Pantheon,  now  denuded  of  its 
bronze  roofing  and  marble  exterior.  A 
circular  opening  in  the  huge  dome  admits 
both  light  and  rain.  Leo  standing  with 


338    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

Lucille  by  the  tomb  of  Raphael  in  one 
of  the  recesses,  for  a  moment  was  silent. 
Then  he  said,  "Lucille,  it  is  impossible 
to  fully  appreciate  the  many  and  beautiful 
works  of  this  ' prince  of  painters.'  He 
was  born  on  Good  Friday,  1483,  and  lived 
exactly  thirty-seven  years.  He  was  of 
slight  build,  sallow,  and  had  brown  eyes. 
Over  nine  hundred  prints  of  his  works 
are  known.  Besides  his  works  in  fresco 
at  the  Vatican,  for  a  time  he  had  charge 
of  the  construction  of  St.  Peter's,  and  he 
also  painted  masterpieces  now  at  Bologna, 
Dresden,  Madrid,  Hampton  Court,  and 
executed  numerous  commissions  for  Leo 
X. ;  and  Madonnas,  holy  families,  portraits, 
etc.,  for  others.  Raphael  stands  unrivaled, 
chiefly  in  his  power  to  portray  lofty 
sentiments  which  persons  of  all  national 
ities  can  feel,  but  few  can  describe.  He 
also  excelled  in  invention,  composition, 
simplicity  and  grandeur.  For  moral  force 
in  allegory  and  history,  and  for  fidelity 
in  portrait,  Raphael  was  unsurpassed.  His 
last  and  most  celebrated  oil  picture,  the 
transfiguration,  unfinished,  stood  at  his 
head  as  his  body  lay  in  state." 

Colonel   Harris   was   interested  in  the 
restored  Triumphal  Arch  of  Titus  erected 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         339 

to  commemorate  the  defeat  of  the  Jews 
A.  D.  70,  also  in  the  beautiful  Arch  to 
Severus.  At  the  end  of  the  Eostra,  or 
Orators'  Tribune  was  the  Umbilicus  Urbis 
Romae,  or  ideal  center  of  Eome  and  the 
Koman  Empire.  True  it  was  that  all  roads 
led  to  Home.  Leo  and  Lucille  visited  by 
moonlight  the  ruins  of  the  great  Colos 
seum,  and  the  lights  and  shadows  in  the 
huge  old  stone  and  brick  amphitheater, 
made  it  look  all  the  more  imposing  and 
picturesque. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  Leo 
Colonna  guided  his  friends  down  the  Via 
di  Ripetta,  stopping  at  the  Mausoleum  of 
Augustus,  which  in  the  middle  ages  was 
used  by  the  Colonnas  as  a  fortress.  Then 
continuing  down  the  left  bank  of  the 
Tiber,  the  Ponte  S.  Angel o  was  reached. 
This  ancient  bridge  of  five  arches  leads 
directly  to  the  Castello  S.  Angelo,  the 
citadel  of  Rome,  which  originally  was  a 
tomb  erected  by  Hadrian  for  himself  and 
successor.  The  tomb  is  240  feet  in  diame 
ter,  and  must  have  been  very  beautiful,  as 
it  was  once  encrusted  with  marble.  Statues 
stood  around  the  margin  of  the  top,  and 
above  all  a  colossal  statue  of  Hadrian 
himself.  Later  the  Goths,  veritable  icono- 


340    The  Harris -Ing  ram  Experiment 

clasts,  converted  this  tomb  of  the  emperors 
into  a  fortress,  hurling  the  marble  statues 
down  on  the  besiegers.  For  centuries  this 
castle-tomb  was  used  as  a  stronghold  by 
the  party  in  power  to  maintain  their 
sway  over  the  people.  In  1822  Pius  IX. 
refortified  the  castle.  In  it  was  seen  the 
gloomy  dungeon  where  Beatrice  Cenci 
and  others  were  incarcerated. 

The  Harrises  drove  down  the  Borgo 
Nuovo  to  the  church  of  St.  Peter.  Its 
approach  is  through  a  magnificent  piazza 
ornamented  on  the  right  and  left  by  two 
semicircular  porticoes  of  284  columns, 
which  are  surmounted  by  an  entablature, 
and  192  statues,  each  eleven  feet  in  height. 
It  is  claimed  that  the  origin  of  the  Cathe 
dral  of  St.  Peter  is  due  to  the  impulse 
given  by  Pope  Julius  II.  who  decided  to 
erect  a  grand  monument  for  himself  in 
his  life-time,  and  the  new  edifice  was 
needed  to  shield  it.  St.  Peter's  was  begun 
in  1506  and  dedicated  in  1626. 

Bramante's  wonderful  plans  were  ac 
cepted,  and  both  Michael  Angelo  and 
Kaphael  aided  in  its  construction.  From 
a  Greek  cross  rises  a  gigantic  dome,  which 
is  one  of  the  boldest  and  most  wonderful 
efforts  of  architecture.  Lucille  recalled 
Byron's  description, 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         341 

"The  vast  and  wondrous  dome, 
To  which  Diana's  marvel  was  a  cell." 

Entering  this  mighty  cathedral,  Colonel 
Harris  was  bewildered  with  its  grand  and 
harmonious  interior.  The  height  from  the 
pavement  to  the  cross  rivals  the  height 
of  the  Washington  monument.  The  nave 
is  607  feet  in  length,  and  the  transept  is 
445  feet.  St.  Paul's  at  London  covers  only 
two  acres,  St.  Peter's  five  acres.  The  cost 
of  the  former  was  $3,750,000,  the  cost  of 
the  latter  from  $60,000,000  to  $80,000,000. 

The  Harrises  visited  St.  John  Lateran, 
the  mother-church  of  the  Eternal  City, 
where  Popes  were  crpwned,  and  where  on 
Ascension  Day,  from  one  of  its  balconies, 
the  Pope's  benediction  to  the  people  is 
pronounced. 

They  also  visited  the  restored  St.  Paul's 
Church  outside  the  walls.  Its  interior  is 
of  vast  dimensions.  It  was  built  of  valuable 
materials,  and  the  whole  is  very  imposing. 
Especially  was  Lucille  impressed  with 
the  long  series  of  portrait  medallions  of 
all  the  Popes  from  St.  Peter  to  Leo  X. 
worked  in  mosaic  above  the  polished 
columns. 

Many  monuments  in  St.  Peter's  were 
erected  to  the  memory  of  several  of  the 


342    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

famous  Popes.  The  Vatican,  the  largest 
palace  in  Europe,  is  where  the  Popes  came 
to  reside  after  their  return  from  Avignon, 
France,  in  1377,  for  here  they  felt  much 
security  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Castle  S. 
Angelo,  with  which  it  communicated  by  a 
covered  gallery.  For  a  time  the  Popes 
vied  with  each  other  in  enlarging  and 
embellishing  the  Vatican,  which  covers  an 
immense  space,  and  is  a  collection  of  sep 
arate  buildings ;  the  length  is  1150  feet,  and 
the  breath  767  feet.  The  Vatican  is  said 
to  contain  20  courts,  and  11,000  halls, 
chapels,  salons,  and  private  apartments, 
most  of  which  are  occupied  by  collections 
and  show-rooms,  while  only  a  small  part 
is  set  apart  for  the  papal  court. 

The  Harrises  visited  the  most  celebrated 
portions  of  the  Vatican;  the  Scala  Regia, 
covered  with  frescoes  of  events  in  Papal 
history,  the  Sistine  Chapel,  adorned  with 
fine  frescoes  by  Michael  Angelo,  including 
the  Last  Judgment.  Here  the  Cardinals 
meet  to  elect  the  Pope,  and  here  many 
of  the  most  gorgeous  ceremonies  of  the 
Eoman  Catholic  Church  are  performed. 

Equally  enthusiastic  were  Leo  and 
Lucille  over  Raphael's  superb  frescoes  in 
the  Loggie,  and  in  the  chambers  adjoining. 
The  few  pictures  in  the  gallery  are 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         343 

scarcely  surpassed.  The  museum  contains 
some  of  the  noblest  treasures  of  art, 
including  the  Laocoon,  and  Apollo  Belvi- 
dere.  The  library  is  very  valuable.  The 
superb  palace  of  the  Quirinal  has  beauti 
ful  gardens. 

Besides  the  several  elegant  public 
palaces  in  Rome,  there  are  in  and  near 
the  city  over  sixty  private  palaces  or 
villas ;  the  finest  of  which  is  the  Barberini 
Palace.  Several  of  the  villas  are  located 
above  terraces  amid  orange  and  citron 
groves,  and  they  are  ornamented  with 
statues  and  fountains.  Leo  with  pride  took 
his  friends  to  see  the  Colonna  Palace, 
which  contained  many  old  portraits  of  his 
family. 

After  dinner  a  drive  was  taken  outside 
the  Porta  del  Popolo  to  the  magnificent 
Villa  Borghese  and  the  Pincian  Hill.  It 
was  planned  to  visit  on  the  morrow  the 
gallery  Borghese,  next  to  the  Vatican,  the 
most  important  in  Rome.  It  was  dark  as 
Leo  returned  with  his  party  to  the  hotel. 
The  landlord  handed  him  a  gentleman's 
card  which  read, 

MR.  FERDINAND  FRANCISCO  COLONNA. 
PIAZZA  COLONNA,  ROME. 


344    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

The  landlord  said  that  this  gentleman 
was  waiting  for  Leo  in  the  reception-room. 
Leo  at  once  recognized  the  card  as  that 
of  his  cousin,  who  was  an  attorney  in 
Borne,  and  he  hurried  to  meet  his  relative. 
They  grasped  hands  warmly,  and  soon 
were  in  earnest  conversation. 

Ferdinand,  taking  a  large  official  envel 
ope  from  his  pocket,  opened  it  and  began 
reading  what  he  called  a  very  important 
paper.  It  was  a  copy  of  the  will  of  their 
rich  uncle,  who  had  just  died,  while 
inspecting  his  possession  in  Sicily.  Leo 
Colonna  bore  the  name  of  this  uncle,  his 
father's  oldest  brother,  who  was  fond  of 
art,  and  who  was  never  married.  He  had 
always  been  attached  to  Leo,  his  nephew, 
and  in  his  will  Leo  was  made  his  sole 
heir.  Great  was  Leo's  surprise  to  learn 
that  he  was  now  not  only  the  owner  of 
a  fine  palace  southeast  of  Kome,  but  of 
large  possessions  in  Rome,  Sicily,  and 
South  America. 

Leo  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  his  eyes 
closed,  his  face  changed  color  and  the 
muscles  of  his  hands  and  face  twitched 
as  if  he  were  in  pain.  Suddenly  he 
recovered  possession  of  himself  and  said, 
"Ferdinand,  you  almost  paralyze  me  by 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         345 

the  news  you  bring.  Am  I  dreaming,  or 
not?" 

"No,  no,  Leo.  This  is  a  copy  of  the 
will  of  our  uncle.  The  original  will  is  in 
my  safe.  By  this  same  will  I  am  to  have 
100,000  lira  for  assisting  you.  I  am  now 
at  your  service." 

"Ferdinand,  you  bring  sad  and  glorious 
news.  What  is  your  advice?" 

"That  we  file  the  original  will  at  once 
in  the  proper  court,  and  that  you  proceed 
with  me  immediately  to  Marino  to  take 
possession  there  of  your  palace  and 
property. ' ' 

"Agreed,  Ferdinand.  We  will  leave 
Rome  for  Marino  at  noon  tomorrow. 
Meet  me  here,  as  I  may  have  friends  to 
join  us." 

Leo  hastened  at  once  to  tell  the  good 
news  to  the  Harrises,  who  were  nearly  as 
much  elated  as  himself,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  all  would  join  Leo  in  his  proposed 
trip.  It  was  late  that  night  when  Leo  and 
Lucille  separated  in  the  parlor  below. 
Each  had  dreamed  of  castles  in  Spain,  but 
now  it  looked  as  if  Leo  and  possibly 
Lucille,  might  actually  possess  castles  in 
Italy. 

That  night  Leo  told  Lucille  much  about 


346    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  princely  Colonna  family  of  Italy, 
which  originated  in  the  llth  century.  Pope 
Martin  V.,  several  others  who  took  part 
in  the  contest  between  the  Guelphs  and 
the  Ghibellines,  and  many  others  of  the 
Colonna  family  had  attained  to  historical 
and  literary  distinction. 

Lucille  was  interested  in  the  story  of 
the  great  naval  battle  of  Lepanto  in  which 
Marc  Antonio  Colonna  aided  Don  Juan 
of  Austria  to  gain  a  world-renowned  vic 
tory  for  Christianity  against  the  Turks, 
the  first  effective  triumph  of  the  cross  over 
the  crescent.  Leo  recited  the  story  of  the 
life  of  the  illustrious  Vittoria  Colonna, 
pictures  of  a  bust  of  whom  Lucille  had 
seen  that  day  in  Rome. 

Vittoria,  and  the  son  of  the  Marquis 
of  Pescara,  when  children  four  years  old, 
were  affianced,  and  in  their  seventeenth 
year  they  were  married.  The  young  bride 
bravely  sent  her  husband  to  the  wars  with 
a  pavilion,  an  embroidered  standard,  and 
palm  leaves,  expressing  the  hope  that  he 
would  return  with  honors,  for  she  was 
proud  of  the  Colonna  name. 

Vittoria  full  of  genius  and  grace,  ideal 
ized  her  young  showy  cavalier,  who  was 
gallant  and  chivalrous.  Her  brave  knight 


Two   Unansivered  Letters         347 

Pescara,  among  other  victories,  won  the 
battle  of  Pavia,  and  finally  died  of  his 
wounds  in  Milan  before  she  could  reach 
his  side.  Vittoria  Colonna  buried  her  love 
in  Pescara 's  grave  at  Naples.  Her  widow 
hood  was  a  period  of  sorrow,  song, 
friendship,  and  saintly  life.  She  was  tall, 
stately, and  dignified;  of  gracious  manners, 
and  united  much  charmj  with  her  culture 
and  virtue.  She  is  considered  the  fairest 
and  noblest  lady  of  the  Italian  Renais 
sance. 

Vittoria  Colonna  was  on  intimate  terms 
with  the  great  men  and  women  of  her 
day,  and  in  close  sympathy  with  the  Ital 
ian  reformers.  Michael  Angelo  was  warm 
ly  her  friend.  His  strong  verses  full  of 
feeling  to  Vittoria  were  replied  to  in 
gentle,  graceful  strains.  She  died  as  the 
sun  sank  in  the  Mediterranean  on  the 
afternoon  of  February  25,  1547,  Michael 
Angelo  regretting  as  he  saw  her,  lying  on 
her  death-bed,  that  he  had  not  kissed  her 
forehead  and  face  as  he  had  kissed  her 
hand. 

As  Lucille  retired  that  night  she  felt 
the  force  of  Vittoria 's  noble  life,  and 
longed  to  emulate  one  so  related  to  her 
friend  Leo.  She  felt  her  own  heart  drawing 


348    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

nearer  to  Leo's,  and  in  the  silent  hours 
of  the  night,  she  sometimes  wondered  if 
she  should  ever  bear  the  honored  name  of 
Colonna. 

Next  day  at  12  o'clock  promptly,  Leo's 
cousin  caine,  and  the  Harrises  and  Leo 
took  the  Eome  and  Naples  line  for  Mari 
no,  located  sixteen  miles  southeast  of 
Eome,  where  Vittoria  Colonna  had  lived, 
and  where  Leo  expected  to  find  and  take 
possession  of  his  own  palace  and  property. 

The  Eoman  tombs  of  the  Via  Appia  on 
the  right  were  soon  left  behind.  A  dozen 
miles  out  and  Frascate  a  summer  resort 
was  conspicuous  with  its  many  lovely 
villas.  Later  the  party  left  the  train  and 
enjoyed  a  beautiful  drive  of  three  miles 
to  Marino,  a  small  town  famous  for  its 
wine,  and  located  on  the  Alban  Mountains. 
In  the  middle  ages,  the  Orsini  defended 
themselves  here  in  a  stronghold  against 
their  enemies  the  Colonna,  but  the  latter 
under  Martin  V.  captured  Marino,  which 
with  the  surrounding  country  has  remained 
a  fief  of  the  Colonna  family  to  the  present 
day. 

Ferdinand  had  already  attended  to 
much  of  the  detail  at  Marino,  so  that  Leo, 
as  owner  of  the  vast  Colonna  estate,  was 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         349 

loyally  received  by  the  villagers,  the  ten 
ants,  and  the  old  servants.  Leo  made  his 
friends,  the  Harrises,  most  welcome  at  his 
unexpected  and  palatial  home.  The  Har 
rises  were  delighted  at  what  they  saw. 
Leo  and  Lucille  took  several  drives 
together  over  the  large  estate.  Once  they 
drove  along  the  shady  roads,  commanding 
extensive  views,  through  the  beautiful 
park  of  Colonna,  and  down  a  well  wooded 
valley  to  the  clear  waters  of  the  Alban 
Lake.  Often  Leo  wished  that  Alfonso  had 
accompanied  him. 

For  some  time  before  leaving  Rome, 
Lucille  had  complained  of  a  dull  headache 
and  chills  at  night.  In  France  Mrs.  Harris 
was  fearful  that  the  summer  trip  to  Italy 
was  not  wise,  but  Leo  and  her  family 
thought  the  yacht  voyage  to  Naples  would 
be  charming.  On  the  morning  of  the  third 
day  at  Marino,  Lucille  was  unable  to  leave 
her  bed.  Leo  hastily  called  a  physician  who 
found  her  pulse  very  low.  She  experienced 
great  thirst  and  nausea,  and  the  heat  of 
her  body  was  much  increased.  When  the 
doctor  learned  that  Colonel  Harris's 
daughter  had  slept  in  Rome  with  the  win 
dow  open,  he  at  once  declared  to  the 
family  that  Lucille  had  Roman  fever, 


350    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

that  dreaded  malaria  which  is  engendered 
in  summer  months  near  the  marshes  of 
Italy.  Leo  summoned  to  Marino  the  ablest 
physicians  of  Borne,  who  were  in  constant 
attendance,  and  heroic  treatment  was 
adopted. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  were  half 
crazed  with  the  fear  of  losing  their  beauti 
ful  daughter,  and  Leo  himself  was  nearly 
frantic.  Lucille  grew  rapidly  worse.  Her 
strength  and  courage  failed  her,  she  be 
came  unconscious,  and  as  the  tall  white 
lily  in  the  mid-day  sun  loses  its  beauty 
and  life,  so  Lucille  passed  from  earth, 
her  agonizing  mother  holding  the  dead 
daughter's  slender  white  hands. 

Leo  fell  insensible  and  was  removed 
from  the  death-chamber  by  his  servants. 
Womanly  courage  returned  to  the  mother 
after  a  few  moments  of  intense  grief,  and 
aided  by  others  the  necessary  preparations 
were  made  for  the  removal  of  Lucille  to 
America. 

Captain  Harry  Hall  with  his  yacht  en 
route  to  Athens  had  called  at  Brindisi  to 
get  a  reply  from  a  most  important  letter 
of  his  mailed  to  Lucille  at  Palermo.  As  he 
stepped  ashore  a  telegram  was  handed  him 
announcing  the  sudden  death  of  the  woman 


Two   Unanswered  Letters         351 

he  loved.  He  was  so  shocked  that  his 
friends  were  alarmed.  After  a  short  con 
ference  Harry  wired  Colonel  Harris  the 
use  of  his  yacht  to  carry  back  to  America 
the  remains  of  beautiful  Lucille. 

While  Colonel  Harris  was  writing  an 
acceptance  of  Captain  Hall's  services,  a 
second  telegram  came  announcing  the 
death,  by  drowning,  of  his  only  son  Alfonso 
in  the  Zuider  Zee  at  Amsterdam.  How  true 
that  misfortunes  never  come  singly! 

Beneath  the  pillow  on  which  Lucille  died, 
were  found  two  unanswered  letters,  pro 
posals  of  marriage,  one  from  Leo  and  one 
from  Captain  Hall.  The  broken  hearted 
mother  took  charge  of  these  letters,  and 
before  the  metallic  coffin  was  sealed,  the 
unanswered  letters  were  placed  in  Lucille 's 
white  hand,  over  the  heart  that  could  not 
now  decide. 

Later  the  casket  was  put  on  board  the 
yacht  "Hallena"  at  Eome,  and  Captain 
Hall  with  his  flag  at  half-mast  steamed 
towards  America  with  the  woman,  who 
could  never  on  earth  accept  the  tribute  of 
his  heart.  Leo,  now  Marquis  Colonna,  true 
chevalier  that  he  was,  insisted  that  he  be 
permitted  to  accompany  Colonel  Harris 
to  Amsterdam  in  search  of  his  son  Alfonso. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

COLONEL  HARRIS'S  BIG  BLUE  ENVELOPE 

THE  honeymoon  of  George  and  Gertrude 
included  not  only  the  two  delightful  weeks 
in  Switzerland,  but  also  the  ten  or  twelve 
days  on  a  slow  steamer  returning  to  New 
York.  The  weather  at  sea  was  all  that  could 
be  desired.  The  longer  a  smooth  sea-voyage, 
the  better  lovers  are  pleased.  Eeturn  ocean 
passages  usually  furnish  the  much  needed 
rest  after  a  so-called  vacation  abroad. 
Overworked  Americans  need,  not  so  much 
an  entire  cessation  of  activities,  as  a  change 
of  occupation,  which  usually  brings  the 
desired  results. 

George  and  Gertrude  made  but  few  ac 
quaintances  on  the  steamer.  The  thought 
that  each  possessed  the  other  was  enjoy 
ment  that  satisfied,  and  both  were  happy. 
Each  lived  as  in  dream-land,  and  scarcely 
observed  even  the  daily  runs  made  by  the 
steamer.  The  death  by  accident  of  a  sailor, 
and  his  strange  burial  at  sea,  served  only 
for  a  brief  time  to  arrest  a  happiness  made 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  353 

complete  by  each  other 's  voice  and  pres 
ence.  The  two  weeks  on  the  ocean  came  and 
went  as  softly  as  flowers  unfold  and  disap 
pear.  Thus  far,  married  life  had  been  ideal. 

It  was  after  eleven  o'clock,  and  anxious 
passengers  were  pacing  the  decks,  hoping 
to  sight  native  land  before  retiring.  Sud 
denly  the  officer  on  the  bridge  discerned 
the  dim  Fire  Island  Light,  bearing  north 
by  west,  twenty  miles  distant.  Ten  min 
utes  later,  five  points  on  the  port  bow,  a 
pilot  boat  was  sighted.  Her  mast-head  light 
was  visible,  also  the  torch,  which  soaked  in 
turpentine,  burnt  brightly  at  intervals. 

The  steamer  signals,  "We  want  a  pilot/' 
by  burning  a  blue  light  on  the  bridge,  and 
bears  down  on  the  pilot  schooner.  The 
moon  reveals  enormous  figures,  with  a 
heavy  dot  beneath,  on  the  mainsail  of  the 
schooner.  Over  the  rail  goes  the  yawl,  fol 
lowed  by  the  oarsman  and  pilot,  whose  turn 
it  is  to  go  ashore.  The  pilot  carries  a  lan 
tern,  which  in  the  egg-shaped  yawl  dances 
on  the  white  wave  crests  up  and  down  like 
a  fire-fly.  The  yawl  is  soon  under  the 
steamer's  lee,  and  a  line  from  the  big  ship 
pulls  the  little  boat  to  the  ladder,  and  the 
pilot  nimbly  climbs  to  the  steamer's  bridge, 
bringing  the  latest  papers.  The  schooner 


354   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

drifts  under  the  steamer's  stern,  takes  in 
the  yawl,  and  again  sails  to  the  eastward 
in  search  of  another  liner. 

The  entrance  to  the  port  of  New  York 
is  patrolled  night  and  day  hy  a  pilot-fleet 
of  thirty  boats,  which  cost  from  $10,000 
to  $20,000  each.  They  are  staunch  and  sea 
worthy,  the  fastest  schooners  afloat.  Often, 
knocked  down  by  heavy  seas,  for  a  moment 
they  tremble,  like  a  frightened  bird,  then 
shaking  the  water  off  their  decks,  they 
rise,  heave  to,  perhaps  under  double 
reefed  foresail,  and  with  eve ly thing  made 
snug,  outride  the  storm,  and  are  at  their 
work  again.  Pilots  earn  good  pay,  and 
this  they  deserve,  as  they  often  risk  their 
lives  in  behalf  of  others. 

Sandy  Hook  Light  was  now  in  sight, 
and  long  before  the  sun  began  his  journey 
across  the  heavens,  the  steamer  lay  at 
anchor  at  quarantine,  waiting  for  a  cer 
tificate  from  the  health  officer.  As  the 
steamer  proudly  sped  through  "The  Nar 
rows/'  a  jubilant  crowd  of  passengers  on 
the  promenade  deck  sang, 

"My  country  'tis  of  thee 
Sweet  Land  of  Liberty, 
Of  thee  I  sing; 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  355 

Land  where  my  fathers  died; 
Land  of  the  pilgrim's  pride; 
From  ev^ry  mountain  side 
Let  freedom  ring/' 

The  hymn  was  sung  to  the  tune  of  ' '  God 
Save  the  Queen, "  and  several  enthusiastic 
Englishmen  joined  with  their  kith  and  kin. 

On  Bedloe's  Island  Bartholdi's  Statue 
of  Liberty  waved  her  torch.,  outward  bound 
steamers  exchanged  salutes,  the  Brooklyn 
Bridge  and  all  the  ferries  were  thronged 
with  people  hurrying  to  the  labor  marts 
of  the  metropolis,  as  the  steamer  with 
George  and  Gertrude  aboard  moved  up 
the  harbor  and  was  safely  docked  on  the 
North  Eiver. 

In  the  lead  down  the  gangway  Gertrude 
hastened  George  to  secure  a  carriage  for 
their  hotel,  so  anxious  was  she  to  reach 
rooms  on  American  soil,  where  she  might 
honorably  break  the  seal  of  her  father's 
mysterious  big  blue  envelope.  It  had  rarely 
been  out  of  her  mind  since  the  day  of  her 
wedding  in  Paris. 

After  breakfast,  served  in  true  American 
style,  the  Ingrams  glanced  at  the  big 
morning  papers  crowded  with  American 
news,  and  wondered  why  European  papers 


356    TKe  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

printed  so  little  about  the  States.  Then 
they  retired  to  their  rooms  to  break  the 
seal  of  the  blue  envelope. 

George  was  all  attention  as  his  young 
wife  with  the  flush  of  health  and  excite 
ment  in  her  cheeks  tore  apart  the 
envelope,  and  stepping  to  the  window  for 
better  light,  she  began  to  read  Reuben 
Harris's  letter. 

PARIS  - 
Dear  George  and  Gertrude, — 

The  accumulation  of  my  fortune,  now 
largely  invested  in  prime  securities,  has 
been  a  surprise  and  often  a  burden  to  me, 
and  with  it  came,  as  I  now  clearly  see, 
great  responsibilities. 

Money  is  power,  and  most  people 
zealously  seek  it.  Many  fail  to  get  it,  and 
often  those  who  do  succeed,  fail  to  keep 
it.  Wealth  unsought  comes  only  to  a  few, 
while  others,  with  perhaps  hereditary 
financial  instincts,  pursue  with  certainty 
of  success  the  golden  fleece. 

My  early  experiences  with  poverty,  and 
now  with  wealth,  and  my  late  extensive 
observations  have  impressed  upon  me,  as 
never  before,  the  common  brotherhood  of 
mankind.  The  great  problem  of  our  age 
is  the  proper  administration  of  wealth,  so 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  357 

that  the  ties  of  brotherhood  may  still 
bind  together  the  rich  and  poor  in  har 
monious  relations.  What  shall  be  the  laws 
of  accumulation  and  distribution?  To 
decide  this  wisely  the  discretion  of  our 
present  and  future  legislators  will  be 
heavily  burdened. 

The  condition  of  many  races  is  better 
today  on  the  foundations  on  which  society 
is  built,  than  on  the  old  ones  tried  and 
abandoned.  What  were  yesterday's  luxu 
ries  are  today's  necessities.  The  poor 
enjoy  today  what  yesterday  even  the  rich 
could  not  afford.  Mankind  always  has 
exhibited  great  irregularities.  In  every 
race  some  are  born  with  an  energy  and 
ability  to  produce  wealth,  others  not.  In 
vention  and  discovery  have  replaced 
scarcity  and  dearness  with  abundance  and 
cheapness.  The  law  of  competition  seems 
to  cheapen  comforts  and  luxuries. 

Both  labor  and  capital  are  organizing, 
concentrating,  competing.  The  idealist  may 
dream  of  what  is  attainable  in  the  future, 
but  our  duty  is  plainly  with  what  is  prac 
ticable  now.  My  pra}7er  is  for  wisdom  and 
ability  to  administer  wisely  our  wealth, 
during  my  life-time.  I  am  therefore 
resolved  to  act  as  follows: — 


358    The  II  arris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

1st.  To  retain  for  my  family  only  what 
will  provide  modestly  for  them  all.  I  do 
not  wish  to  leave  much  property  for  my 
relatives  to  use  prodigally,  or  to  quarrel 
over. 

2nd.  I  p]an  not  to  wait  till  I  die  and 
then  leave  behind  for  public  purposes 
money  which  I  cannot  take  with  me.  I 
shall  consider  myself  as  an  agent,  or 
trustee,  in  charge  of  certain  surplus  funds 
to  be  expended  in  behalf  of  my  poorer 
brethren. 

On  our  return  to  America,  Mrs.  Harris 
and  I  will  make  our  wills  in  accordance 
with  the  above.  It  is  our  desire  that, 
when  you  reach  home,  you  both  enter  at 
once  upon  the  development  of  your  plans, 
of  a  cooperative  manufacturing  corpora 
tion,  in  accordance  with  the  views  which 
you  have  so  frequently  mentioned.  In  the 
execution  of  these  plans,  you  may  use,  if 
necessary,  five  millions.  With  best  wishes 
for  your  happiness. 

Your  father, 

EEUBEN  HARRIS. 

The  writing  of  this  letter  gave  Colonel 
Harris  more  pleasure  than  any  act  of  his 
life;  in  fact  it  was  for  him  the  beginning 
of  a  new  life;  a  life  for  others. 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  359 

The  reading  of  the  letter  also  gave 
George  and  Gertrude  much  happiness,  for 
it  furnished  them  abundant  means  for  the 
execution  of  their  beneficent  plans,  which 
had  been  thoroughly  considered  by  the 
Harris  family.  This  important  letter  was 
returned  to  the  blue  envelope  and  given 
to  Gertrude  for  safe  keeping,  and  it  was 
agreed  to  leave  for  Harrisville  next  day 
at  1  o'clock  on  the  Chicago  Special. 

Among  the  personals  in  the  Harrisville 
Sunday  paper  appeared  the  following: 

Arrived  from  Europe  Saturday  morning,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  Ingram.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  their 
many  friends  will  give  them  cordial  welcome.  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Reuben  Harris,  their  son  and  daughter,  Alfonso 
and  Lucille,  will  remain  in  Europe  for  several  weeks. 

This  notice,  though  brief,  was  of  much, 
interest  to  rich  and  poor  in  Harrisville. 
Society,  of  course,  was  interested  in  the 
marriage  of  Gertrude,  business  men  in  the 
return  of  so  skilled  a  manufacturer  as 
George  Ingram,  and  many  workmen,  still 
unemployed,  hoped  that  their  old  super 
intendent  whom  they  loved  would  find  or 
make  positions  for  them. 

The  continued  absence  of  Colonel  Harris 
the  financier  aided  George  Ingram  in  cer 
tain  important  negotiations  which  he 


360    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

proceeded  quietly  to  make,  viz.,  the  pur 
chase  in  the  suburbs  of  Harrisville,  in 
fifty  parcels,  of  4,000  acres  of  contiguous 
land,  that  had  both  a  river  and  a  lake 
front.  While  these  purchases  were  being 
made,  agents  were  dispatched  into  several 
Ohio  counties,  and  more  than  20,000  acres 
of  well  tested  coal  lands  were  secured. 
When  it  was  learned  that  all  these  lands 
were  bought  in  the  name  of  George  Ingram, 
and  paid  for  in  cash,  the  wisacres  of  the 
city  began  to  say,  "I  told  you  so;  these 
monopolists  having  visited  England  have 
adopted  foreign  ideas,  and  now  they  have 
returned  to  buy  and  hold  our  valuable 
lands."  George  Ingram  was  reticent,  as 
most  successful  business  men  are,  for  he 
gave  attention  to  business.  "Talkers  are 
no  great  doers/'  wrote  Shakespeare. 

The  offices  of  the  old  Harrisville  Iron 
&  Steel  Co.  had  been  rented  to  other  parties, 
so  a  suite  of  rooms  near  by  was  occupied 
by  George  Ingram  and  his  five  assistants. 
It  had  leaked  out,  however,  that  Ingram 
had  given  orders  for  twenty  millions  of 
brick  and  a  large  quantity  of  structural 
iron  and  copper  tubes,  all  to  be  delivered 
within  four  months.  The  order  for  copper 
tubes  puzzled  even  the  wisest  in  Harris 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  361 

ville.  Later,  when  a  thousand  laborers 
were  set  at  work  on  the  river  front  of 
his  purchase,  building  extensive  founda 
tions,  it  dawned  upon  the  expectant  that 
a  gigantic  plant  for  some  purpose  was 
to  be  erected  near  Harrisville.  Newspaper 
reporters  found  it  difficult  to  reach  George 
Ingram,  even  with  a  card,  which  would 
be  returned  with  the  reply  "Busy  today. 
Please  excuse  me." 

In  the  meantime  Harris vilJe  agreed  to 
create  a  more  available  harbor,  and  to 
establish  dock  lines,  not  less  than  500  feet 
apart,  and  in  three  years  to  dredge  the 
river  to  a  depth  of  25  feet  for  five  miles 
back  from  the  lake. 

George  Ingram  in  his  own  mind  had 
settled  three  vital  points;  that  Harrisville 
was  one  of  the  most  favorable  producing 
and  distributing  centers  in  America;  that 
he  would  so  design  and  build  a  manufactur 
ing  plant  as  to  minimize  the  cost  of  pro 
duction;  that  he  would  attempt  to  harmo 
nize  capital  and  labor.  Important  provi 
sions  of  the  Company's  charter  were: 

ARTICLE  m 

The  capital  stock  of  this  Corporation  shall  be  Five 
Million  Dollars  ($5,000,000)  to  be  divided  into  Fiv« 


362    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Hundred  Thousand  Shares  at  Ten  Dollars  each,  fully 
paid,  and  non-assessable. 

ARTICLE  VI 

The  private  property  of  stockholders  shall  be  ex 
empt  from  any  and  all  debts  of  this  Corporation. 

Two  thousand  of  the  four  thousand  acres 
purchased  were  set  apart  for  manufact 
uring  purposes.  Most  of  the  land  sloped 
gradually,  and  the  surface-water  naturally 
drained  into  the  river.  George  Ingram 's 
plans  for  an  enormous  steel-plant  had  been 
most  carefully  worked  out  in  detail.  Night 
and  day  the  construction  went  forward. 
In  eight  months  the  plant  was  in  full 
operation.  He  had  obtained  the  latest 
important  labor-saving  devices  and  im 
proved  facilities  in  use  throughout  Amer 
ica  and  Europe.  The  whole  was  supple 
mented  by  the  inventions  already  perfected 
by  his  father  and  himself. 

The  Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co.  was  pro 
vided  with  every  modern  device  that  could 
in  any  manner  contribute  economy  and 
rapidity  from  the  time  the  ores  left  the 
ship,  till  the  finished  product  was  loaded 
for  market.  All  ores  and  limestone  were 
delivered  on  a  tableland  of  the  same 
height,  and  adjacent  to  a  series  of  several 
enormous  blast-furnaces.  The  melted  iron 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  363 

from  the  blast-furnaces  was  tapped  into 
ladles  mounted  on  iron  cars,  and  provided 
with  mechanism  for  tipping  the  ladles. 
The  molten  iron  of  the  cars  was  next  trans 
ferred  to  improved  converters  in  an 
adjoining  building,  constructed  entirely  of 
iron.  Nearby  were  the  spiegel  cupolas. 
The  greatest  possible  accuracy  was  thus 
attainable  in  delivering  definite  quantities 
of  molten  iron  into  the  converter  for  a 
given  blow,  also  of  spiegeleisen.  This  was 
easily  accomplished  by  standing  the  ladle 
cars  upon  scales. 

The  metal  was  cast  into  ingot  moulds, 
standing  upon  cars,  and  then  transferred  to 
the  mould  stripper;  afterwards  the  ingots 
were  weighed  and  sent  to  the  soaking-pit 
furnaces.  After  a  "wash  heat"  the  ingots, 
or  blooms,  entered  the  rolls,  and  were 
drawn  and  sized  in  shape  to  fill  orders  from 
every  part  of  the  world. 

The  marvel  at  the  Harris-Ingram  Steel 
Co.'s  mills  was  that  electricity,  developed 
in  vast  quantities  at  the  coal  mines  and 
conveyed  on  patented  copper  tubes,  fur 
nished  all  the  power,  heat,  and  light  used 
in  the  entire  plant.  Electricity  hoisted  and 
melted  all  the  ores;  it  worked  Sturtevant 
fans  and  blowing  engines,  which  supplied 


364    The  Harris-Ing  ram,  Experiment 

necessary  air  for  cupolas  and  converters. 
Electricity  furnished  all  the  power  req 
uisite  to  handle  innumerable  cranes  and 
cars.  As  easily  as  a  magnet  picks  up  tacks, 
electricity  also  handled  ingots  or  finished 
steel.  Five  thousand  tons  of  finished  steel 
per  day  were  made  and  the  labor  and  fuel 
account  had  been  reduced  over  one-half. 

While  the  huge  steel  plant  at  Harrisville 
was  being  constructed,  a  large  force  of 
men  were  building  a  conduit  to  protect 
copper  tubes,  from  the  steel  plant  to  the 
coal  fields.  At  the  mines  hundreds  of 
miners  were  set  at  work,  several  shafts 
were  sunk,  and  tunnels,  levels,  and  winzes 
were  developed. 

George  Ingram  believed  that  all  the 
force  in  the  world  available  for  man's  use 
was  derived  from  the  sun ;  so  he  heroically 
resolved  to  hitch  his  wagon,  if  not  to  a 
star,  to  the  mighty  sun.  With  this  purpose 
in  view,  he  had  bought  the  20,000  acres  of 
coal  land.  Half  of  this  area  was  located  in 
Jefferson,  Harrison,  and  Belmont  counties 
on  the  Ohio  River,  and  thus  title  was 
secured  to  vast  quantities  of  fossil  power 
in  the  upper  coal  measures,  which  ignites 
quickly  and  burns  with  a  hot  fire.  The  other 
10,000  acres  were  valuable  because  nearer 


^4 
Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  365 

to  Harrisville.  This  coal  came  from  lower 
measures  or  seams. 

George  Ingram  had  made  a  thorough 
study  of  coal,  or  fossil  fuel,  its  formation 
and  value.  The  coal  of  the  carboniferous 
age  is  derived  almost  entirely  from  the 
family  of  plants  called  Lycopods,  or  club 
mosses,  and  the  ferns,  which  back  in  high 
antiquity  attained  gigantic  size.  The 
microscope  has  clearly  developed  this  veg 
etable  origin  of  coal.  The  great  Appala 
chian  and  other  coal  fields  are  without 
doubt,  the  long  continued  and  vigorous 
forest  growths,  and  subsequent  fossiliza- 
tion  of  the  same  in  the  marginal  swamps 
of  ancient  gulfs  or  seas. 

The  agency  of  transfer  for  solar  energy 
is  the  vegetable  kingdom.  The  vegetable  cell 
has  the  surprising  property  through  the 
sun's  agency  of  being  able  to  live  and 
multiply  itself  on  air  alone.  The  carbon  of 
carbonic  acid,  a  constituent  of  the  atmos 
phere,  is  so  liberated  and  appropriated, 
as  to  become  fixed  in  the  forming  tissues 
of  plants.  Thus  the  plant  is  a  storer  of 
light  and  heat,  a  reservoir  of  force.  It 
mediates  between  the  sun's  energy  and  the 
animal  life  of  the  world.  Thus  coal  seams 
are  the  accumulations  of  the  sun's  energy 


366    The  Harris-Ingram,  Experiment 

for  thousands  of  centuries,  requiring  tlie 
patient  growth  and  slow  decay  of  hundreds 
of  immense  forests.  One  secret  of  the  un 
precedented  late  growth  of  cities  is  dis 
covered  in  the  steam  engine,  or  the  coal 
which  feeds  it. 

A  pound  of  good  coal,  used  in  a  good 
engine,  stands  for  the  work  of  six  horses 
for  an  hour ;  a  ton  of  coal  for  the  work  of 
thirteen  hundred  horses  for  a  day  of  ten 
hours;  ten  thousand  tons  of  coal,  used  in 
a  day  by  single  lines  of  railways,  stand  for 
the  work  of  thirteen  million  horses,  work 
ing  ten  hours  a  day.  In  1894  the  English 
mines  produced  188,277,525  tons  of  coal. 
In  Great  Britain  alone,  coal  does  the  work 
of  more  than  a  hundred  millions  of  men, 
and  adds  proportionately  to  the  fabulously 
increasing  wealth  of  those  fortunate 
islands. 

The  Ingrams  had  solved  two  important 
problems,  and  on  their  practicable  appli 
cation  depended  the  success  of  the  great 
Harris-Ingrain  experiment.  The  more  im 
portant  of  the  two  was  the  unlocking  of 
the  sun's  stored  energy,  electricity,  at  the 
coal  mines.  The  second  was  a  device  for 
conveying  this  energy  from  the  mines  to 
the  steel  plant,  and  it  had  been  patented 
to  protect  it. 


Col.  Harris's  Big  Blue  Envelope  367 

Since  electricity  possibly  travels  on  the 
surface  of  wires  or  metals,  the  Ingrams  pa 
tented  a  valuable  device  of  small  corrugated 
copper  tubes,  strengthened  in  the  center 
by  steel  wires,  and  thus  the  carrying  capac 
ity  of  electricity  was  greatly  increased,  and 
the  amount  of  costly  copper  much  de 
creased.  These  corrugated  tubes  enclosed 
in  cheap  glass,  and  surrounded  with  oil, 
were  laid  in  properly  prepared  conduits 
of  vitrified  fire-clay  sewer  pipes.  Without 
the  intervention  of  the  steam  engine,  by 
a  surprisingly  simple  process,  electrical 
force  was  liberated  chemically  at  the  mines 
and  transferred  for  multiple  uses  at  the 
steel  plant.  Expensive  coal-freights  were 
thus  saved.  All  the  slack  coal  was  utilized, 
and  instead  of  the  waste  of  nine- tenths  of 
the  stored  energy  of  the  coal,  only  one- 
tenth  was  now  lost.  To  husband  properly 
the  fruits  of  so  great  a  discovery,  it  was 
decided  not  to  patent  this  latter  invention, 
which  if  disclosed  would  give  too  great 
publicity  to  the  details. 

The  electrical  works  at  the  mines  were 
constructed  of  safe-steel  walls  and  roof, 
and  so  built  that  the  operations  of  gener 
ating  electricity  directly  from  coal  were 
conducted  in  secret  in  several  separate 
apartments,  so  that  no  single  operator 


368    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

without  the  knowledge  of  all  the  initiated 
employees  would  be  able  to  successfully 
work  the  inventions.  The  dozen  initiated 
employees  had  made  life  long  contracts 
with  the  company  in  consideration  of 
liberal  and  satisfactory  rewards.  The 
Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co.  thus  equipped 
began  operations. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


ALFONSO  HARRIS  was  content  to  leave  his 
friends  to  continue  their  journey,  as  they 
were  willing  that  he  should  return  to  the 
Netherlands,  or  to  Amsterdam,  where 
lived  the  beautiful  woman  who  had  won 
his  heart. 

Christine  de  Ruyter  cordially  welcomed 
Alfonso  back  to  study  art  as  he  expressed 
it  to  her  on  the  first  evening  after  his 
arrival.  Alfonso  was  much  in  Christine's 
society,  at  art  exhibits,  in  carriage  drives, 
and  on  pleasure  boat  excursions  down  the 
bay.  Weeks  went  by  before  he  could 
summon  courage  enough  to  ask  Christine's 
hand  in  marriage. 

In  the  game  of  hearts  Alfonso  thought 
himself  an  able  combatant.  He  had  studied 
Christine  in  action  and  in  repose,  in  soci 
ety,  and  when  alone  under  his  protection 
at  Scheveningen,  and  at  home,  and  he 
prided  himself  that  he  knew  at  least  one 
woman  thoroughly.  She  loved  art,  flowers, 


370    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

music,  and  fine  dress,  and  was  very  ambi 
tious.  The  latter  trait  was  doubtless 
inbred  from  her  distinguished  naval  rela 
tives. 

Christine  had  many  acquaintances 
among  the  best  families  of  Holland.  Her 
beauty,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  she  was 
an  heiress,  made  her  the  object  of  much 
attention  from  artists  and  members  of 
clubs,  but  possibly  her  love,  or  affection 
for  art,  might  have  sprung  from  the  desire 
to  gain  more  knowledge  of  how  to  make 
herself  attractive  in  dress,  manner,  and 
conversation.  Christine  was  not  offensively 
vain,  but  she  was  passionately  fond  of 
admiration.  Alfonso  had  never  dreamed 
that  Christine  was  not  genuine  at  heart. 
She  appeared  to  him  to  make  much  of  her 
American  acquaintance,  introducing  him 
to  her  many  friends,  young  ladies  as  well 
as  young  gentlemen,  and  always  seemed  to 
prefer  his  company  to  others. 

She  manifested  even  tenderness  for  him, 
expressed  her  strong  liking  for  America, 
and  Alfonso  believed  that  Christine  was 
truly  fond  of  him.  No  arguments  or  per 
suasions  could  have  convinced  him  other 
wise.  The  contrary  wishes  of  his  own 
family,  the  eloquence  of  a  Webster,  winds 


"Gold  Marries  Gold9'  371 

from  the  poles,  all  combined,  could  not 
have  cooled  his  ardor.  Alfonso  had  firmly 
resolved  to  wed  Christine,  come  what 
would. 

He  had  often  dreamed  of  her  smiles, 
her  pretty  blue  eyes,  and  her  fleecy  hair 
floating  in  the  breezes  of  the  Zuider  Zee. 
He  had  also  dreamed  of  a  brilliant  wedding 
in  Holland,  of  a  large  reception  at  Harris- 
ville,  and  had  even  heard  the  plaudits  of 
his  fellow  artists  in  New  York,  as  they 
lauded  his  master  piece  "Admiral  De  Euy- 
ter's  Great  Naval  Victory." 

Fortified  with  these  proofs  of  Christine 's 
devotion,  he  sought  the  company  of  his 
blond  sweetheart  on  a  balcony  that  over 
looked  the  moon-lit  harbor  of  Amsterdam. 
Here  Alfonso  offered  his  hand  and  heart 
— to  a  coquette — who  rejected  him.  He 
was  astonished,  almost  stunned.  Recover 
ing  from  his  dazed  condition,  she  again 
chilled  his  heart  by  the  utterance,  "You 
have  not  learned  in  this  practical  world 
of  ours  that  gold  marries  gold;  that 
society  plays  for  equivalents.  You  once 
admitted  to  me  that  your  father  wanted 
you  at  the  head  of  his  large  business,  and 
disapproved  of  your  choice  of  a  profession. 
As  an  artist  you  seek  fame.  How  can  you 


372    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

divide  it  with  me?  In  asking  my  hand  yon 
seek  to  divide  my  gold,  thus  securing  both 
fame  and  gold.  Alfonso  we  have  enjoyed 
each  other's  company  as  friends." 

"Yes,  Christine,  though  you  have  been 
cruel  we  can  separate  as  friends.  Some 
time  I  may  be  able  to  match  gold  with 
gold.  Till  then,  adieu." 

Saying  this  Alfonso  left  the  De  Euyter 
mansion  all  the  more  resolved,  however, 
to  win  Christine.  For  a  moment  her  decep 
tive  heart  rebuked  her  as  she  watched 
Alfonso's  departure.  In  the  papers  of  the 
following  evening  an  announcement 
frightened  Christine.  The  head  lines 
read :  "Mr.  Alfonso  Harris,  a  young  Amer 
ican  artist,  drowned  this  morning  in  the 
harbor. ' ' 

Later  the  police  brought  to  the  De 
Euyter  home  detailed  news.  Christine 
gave  instructions  to  use  every  possible 
effort  to  recover  Alfonso's  body,  and  at 
once  sent  her  servant  with  a  telegram  for 
Colonel  Eeuben  Harris,  Grand  Hotel, 
Paris,  the  only  address  she  knew. 

The  next  day,  with  her  mother,  she 
accompanied  the  police  to  Alfonso's  room, 
where  she  gathered  up  several  of  her  love 
letters.  A  new  suit  of  clothes  hung  in  the 


"Gold  Marries  Gold"  373 

closet,  a  package  of  returned  laundry  lay 
on  the  table,  also  pen,  ink  and  paper. 
Evidently  Alfonso  expected  to  return  soon 
to  the  hotel.  His  clothes,  watch,  and  money 
had  been  found  in  the  boat  that  drifted 
ashore. 

Christine  concluded  that  Alfonso  had 
gone  for  a  bo  at- ride  and  swim,  as  was  his 
custom;  very  likely  this  time  to  free  his 
mind,  if  possible,  from  recent  trouble, 
and  was  seized  with  cramp  and  drowned 
before  aid  could  reach  him.  Vigorous 
search  in  the  harbor  and  along  the  shore 
instituted  by  the  police  department  and 
the  American  consul  failed  to  locate  his 
body  or  to  furnish  further  facts  to  Chris 
tine  as  to  the  cause  of  the  accident. 


Alfonso  Harris  meant  all  he  said  to 
Christine  in  his  last  words,  "Sometime  I 
may  be  able  to  match  gold  with  gold."  He 
might  be  blind  in  love  matters,  but  his 
mind  after  a  storm  always  righted  itself. 
That  night  when  Alfonso  reached  his  hotel, 
he  planned  to  leave  the  impression  on 
Christine's  mind  that  he  was  dead.  To 
make  the  deception  complete,  his  trunk 
and  all  effects  in  his  room  were  left  as 


374    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

found  by  Christine.  Even  his  watch,  pocket 
book  and  clothes  were  left  behind  in  the 
little  pleasure  boat,  while  he  donned  an 
extra  suit.  A  Norwegian  captain,  who  was 
about  leaving  Amsterdam  with  a  cargo  for 
Canada,  agreed  for  fifty  dollars  to  pick  up 
Alfonso  down  the  harbor  and  to  land  him 
in  Quebec. 

Fine  family,  beauty,  and  gold  were 
powerful  incentives  to  effort  to  an  ambi 
tious  young  man  like  Alfonso,  and  he  was 
resolved,  incognito,  to  explore  the  Great 
West  in  search  of  riches,  and  once  found, 
he  would  lay  all  at  Christine's  feet,  and 
again  claim  her  hand. 

Jans  Jansen,  the  Norwegian  captain, 
was  a  jolly  good  ship-master,  and  the  fair 
weather  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  proved 
enjoyable.  Alfonso  always  took  his  meals 
with  the  captain.  Jans  Jansen  7s  wife  and 
children  lived  in  Christiania,  and  his  con 
stant  talk  was  that  he  hoped  some  day  to 
get  rich  and  quit  the  sea.  Alfonso  made 
a  warm  friend  of  Captain  Jansen,  who 
pledged  secrecy  as  to  his  escape  from 
Amsterdam. 

The  captain  was  robust  and  his  big 
flowing  red  beard,  blue  eyes,  and  bravery 
made  him  a  worthy  successor  of  the  ancient 


"Gold  Marries  Gold"  375 

vikings  of  the  Norseland.  Jans  Jansen 
enjoyed  his  pipe,  and  with  his  good  stories 
whiled  away  many  an  hour  for  Alfonso, 
so  that  when  the  ship,  under  full  sail, 
entered  the  Strait  of  Belle  Isle  and  sailed 
across  the  Gulf  towards  the  Eiver  St. 
Lawrence,  both  the  captain  and  young 
Harris  regretted  that  their  sea- voyage  was 
so  soon  to  close. 

The  entrance  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Eiver 
is  so  broad  that  the  navies  of  the  world 
abreast  might  enter  the  river  undiscovered 
from  either  bank.  Two  hundred  miles  up 
the  river,  Trinity  House,  an  association 
of  over  three  hundred  pilots,  put  aboard 
a  pilot,  and  at  noon  next  day  Captain 
Jansen  docked  his  vessel  at  Quebec. 

This  old  French  city  is  located  on  a 
high  promontory  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
St.  Lawrence.  Its  citadel,  one  of  the 
strongest  fortresses  in  America,  commands 
a  varied  and  picturesque  beauty.  Alfonso 
walked  up  to  the  obelisk,  which  stands  in 
one  of  the  squares  of  the  Upper  Town,  in 
joint  memory  of  the  brave  generals  Wolfe 
and  Montgomery. 

Next  morning  he  was  off  on  the  Cana 
dian  Pacific  Railway  for  Duluth,  the 
zenith  city.  Thence  the  journey  west  was 


376    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

through  Dakota  in  sight  of  occasional 
tepees,  where  the  brave  Sioux  patiently 
waits  his  call  to  join  the  buffalo  in  the 
happy  hunting  grounds.  Alfonso  did  not 
agree  with  the  popular  sentiment,  "The 
best  Indian  is  a  dead  Indian,"  for  the 
Sioux  seemed  to  him  to  belong  to  a  noble 
race  of  red  men. 

Alfonso's  enthusiasm  for  mining  was 
greatly  quickened  by  a  fellow  traveler, 
who  was  the  owner  of  a  large  block  of 
stock  in  the  famous  Homestake  Mining 
Co.  of  Lead  City,  Black  Hills,  So.  Dakota. 
This  company  possesses  one  of  the  larg 
est  gold  mines  and  mills  in  the  world.  The 
ore  bodies  show  a  working  face  from  two  to 
four  hundred  feet  in  width,  and  sink  to  a 
seemingly  inexhaustible  depth.  The  Home- 
stake  has  produced  over  $25,000,000  in 
bullion,  and  has  divided  over  six  millions 
in  dividends  to  stockholders. 

Three  days'  journey  brought  young  Har 
ris  to  Montana,  an  inland  empire  state, 
which  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  The  Pacific  Express  was  laden 
with  a  motley  crowd  of  men  and  women 
in  search  of  fame  and  fortune.  Alfonso 
soon  caught  their  enthusiasm,  and  visions 
of  castles  with  gilded  domes  floated  in  his 
imagination. 


"Gold  Marries  Gold"  377 

It  was  1:35  P.  M.  when  No.  1,  the 
Pacific  Express,  pulled  into  thrifty  Helena, 
capital  of  Montana,  a  commercial  metro 
polis  metamorphosed  from  a  rude  mining 
camp  of  twenty-five  years  ago. 

The  electric  cars  carried  Alfonso  to  the 
Hotel  Helena  on  Grand  St.,  which  he 
thought  quite  as  good  as  any  in  his  own 
city.  Here  he  was  fortunate  in  meeting 
Mr.  Davidson,  a  gentleman  of  large  experi 
ence  as  owner,  organizer,  and  locator  of 
some  of  the  best  gold  and  silver  proper 
ties  in  Montana  and  adjoining  states. 
Irrigating  canals  and  water-rights  were  a 
special  branch  of  Mr.  Davidson's  business. 
He  never  failed  to  make  the  round  of  the 
leading  hotels  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Overland.  In  this  way  he  met  Alfonso  Har 
ris.  Davidson  knew  when  to  tell  a  good 
story,  and  when  to  be  serious.  He  took 
Alfonso  to  the  Club,  located  in  elegant 
quarters,  and  the  secretary  gave  him  a 
complimentary  visitor's  card.  Davidson 
quickly  discerned  that  Harris  needed  a 
week's  rest,  and  so  took  him  on  the  motor 
line  two  miles  out  to  the  Hotel  Broadwater 
and  Natatorium.  No  wonder  the  citizens 
of  Helena  take  pride  in  their  fine  health 
resort,  the  Helena  Hot  Springs. 

Mr.    Davidson    introduced    Alfonso    to 


378    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Colonel  Broadwater,  who  extended  the 
hospitalities  of  his  hotel  on  which  he  had 
expended  a  fortune.  The  verandas  were 
long  and  wide,  the  park  was  dotted  with 
fountains,  and  the  interior  of  the  hotel 
was  luxurious  in  all  its  furnishings.  The 
mammoth  plunge  bath  was  the  largest  in 
the  world  under  a  single  cover.  Curative 
mineral  waters,  steaming  hot,  flowed  in 
abundantly  from  the  grotto.  In  the  nata- 
torium  fun-loving  men  and  women  slid 
down  the  toboggan  planks,  or  jumped  from 
the  spring  boards,  while  spectators  in  the 
gallery  enjoyed  the  aquatic  sports.  Ele 
gantly  appointed  bathrooms  in  the  hate! 
offered  at  one's  pleasure  the  double  spray 
plunge,  vapor,  and  needle  baths. 

Alfonso  was  not  prepared  to  find  in  the 
mountains  elegance  surpassing  what  he 
had  seen  abroad.  Here  he  luxuriated  for 
a  week,  and  recovered  his  health,  which 
had  been  somewhat  impaired  by  the  unfor 
tunate  experiences  in  Amsterdam,  and  the 
]ong  journey  from  Holland. 

Davidson  visited  Harris  every  day.  At 
first  he  only  sought  to  entertain  and 
awaken  enthusiasm.  He  recited  the  famil 
iar  story  of  the  Last  Chance  Gulch,  how 
in  1864,  four  half-starved  and  disheartened 


"Oold  Marries  Gold"  379 

miners,  on  their  homeward  journey  from 
a  prospecting  tour  among  the  gulches  of 
the  Blackfoot  country  in  search  of  the 
precious  dust,  had  settled  down  to  work 
their  last  chance  to  make  a  stake,  and  had 
found  gold  in  abundance. 

Davidson  said, ' i  Here,  where  today  runs 
the  main  street  of  Helena,  was  the  'Last 
Chance  Gulch/  and  the  output  of  its 
placers  was  not  less  than  fifteen  millions. 
From  300  feet  square,  where  now  stands 
the  Montana  Central  Railway  depot,  two 
miners  took  out  over  $330,000. "  Davidson 
told  of  the  great  successes  at  the  "Jay 
Gould,"  and  "Big  Ox  Mine,"  and,  that 
in  five  years  the  output  of  the  Drum 
Luminon  Mine  was  six  millions. 

All  this  pleased  young  Harris,  and 
whetted  his  appetite  for  mining  invest 
ments.  Finally,  as  a  result  of  several  trips 
to  examine  prospects  and  mines,  Alfonso 
bought  two  prospects  one  hundred  miles 
west  of  Helena  at  a  place  called  Granite. 

At  Drummond  west  of  Helena,  a  line 
branches  south  of  the  Northern  Pacific  to 
Eumsey.  From  Eumsey,  Alfonso  rode  four 
miles  to  Granite,  which  was  located  high 
up  among  huge  granite  boulders.  Here, 
for  a  year  he  isolated  himself  and  labored 


380    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

hard  for  silver  that  was  to  be  exchanged 
into  gold  and  laid  at  the  feet  of  Chris 
tine.  His  mines  had  been  named  "Hidden 
Treasure"  and  "Monte  Christo."  Possi 
bly  these  mystical  names  influenced  Alfon 
so  to  make  the  purchase,  and  no  doubt 
they  often  renewed  his  courage. 

The  United  States  patents  for  his  two 
lode  mining  claims  finally  came,  and  were 
examined  by  legal  experts,  who  pronounced 
them  perfect.  In  the  purchase  of  the 
properties  and  in  the  development  work, 
Alfonso  and  his  two  associates  expended 
$50,000.  On  the  showing,  which  the  devel 
opment  made,  together  with  the  Annual 
Report  of  the  adjacent  Granite  Mountain 
Mining  Company,  young  Harris  hoped  to 
form  a  syndicate  and  profitably  work  his 
mines. 

The  facts  in  the  report  which  Alfonso 
emphasized,  were  that  the  Granite  Mining 
Co.  had  paid  dividends  as  follows: 

Twelve  dividends  ending 

July  31st,  1889  .  .  $1,900,000 

Total  of  fifty-five  divi 
dends,  an  aggregate  of,  $0,700,000 

In  eight  years  these  mines 
had  produced  and  sold 
of  pure  silver  .  .  10,989,858  ozs. 


"Gold  Marries  Gold"  381 

Of  pure  gold    .        .        .  6,521  ozs. 

Eealizing  a  gross  sum      .  $10,988,800 
Total   gross  expenditures    $4,092,512 

Alfonso  felt  free  to  use  the  facts  of  the 
Granite  Reports,  as  his  property  was 
supposed  to  be  a  continuation  of  the  same 
lode  or  metallic  vein.  His  syndicate  was 
finally  organized,  and  with  the  money  thus 
made  available,  all  possible  work  was  done 
for  the  next  twelve  months,  on  shaft,  levels, 
cross-cuts,  drifts,  winzes,  and  raises.  For 
two  long  years  he  pursued  underground 
promising  indications  of  wealth,  which 
like  the  will-with-the-wisp  evaded  him. 
until  every  prospect  of  silver  and  gold  in 
the  "Hidden  Treasure, "  and  "Monte 
Christo"  disappeared,  and  the  mines  were 
abandoned. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE   MAGIC  BAND  OF  BEATEN   GOLD 

THE  demonetization  of  silver  by  the  gov 
ernment  in  1873,  and  its  great  production, 
had  reduced  the  value  of  the  white  metal 
one-half,  so  young  Harris  resolved  to  seek 
for  gold,  and  began  a  search,  which  proved 
to  be  a  most  romantic  success. 

At  first  he  hesitated  to  leave  Montana, 
as  its  quartz  veins  and  sluice  boxes 
in  twenty-five  years  had  poured  out 
$400,000,000,  and  its  mineral  resources 
were  yet  almost  wholly  unknown.  The  area 
of  this  single  mountainous  state  could  not 
be  blanketed  by  the  six  New  England 
States,  and  New  York,  or  covered  by  Eng 
land,  Wales,  Ireland,  and  Scotland  com 
bined. 

Finally  Alfonso  determined  to  follow 
the  great  mineral  belt  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  even  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  Range 
if  need  be.  At  Livingston  he  went  south 
by  railway  through  a  gateway  of  the 
mountains,  and  up  the  fertile  Paradise 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    383 

Valley,  following  the  cool  green  waters  of 
the  Yellowstone  alive  with  trout  and 
equally  gamesome  graylings. 

At  Cinnabar  Alfonso  joined  a  merry 
party  of  tourists,  who  mounted  a  Concord 
coach,  and  the  four  grays  were  urged  to 
a  brisk  pace  over  a  smooth  government 
road  towards  the  great  National  Park. 
How  exhilarating  this  six  miles'  ride,  and 
how  imposing  the  scenery,  as  the  coach 
enters  this  Geologist's  Paradise! 

The  Yellowstone  or  National  Park  con 
tains  2,288,000  acres,  and  is  fifty  times 
the  size  of  France's  greatest  park  at  Fon- 
tainebleau.  Its  altitude  is  a  half  mile 
higher  than  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington, 
and  the  whole  park  is  encircled  by  snow- 
clad  peaks  and  majestic  domes  from  three 
to  five  thousand  feet  high.  This  reserva 
tion  by  Congress  in  1872,  of  3575  square 
miles  of  public  domain  in  perpetuity  for 
the  pleasure  of  the  people,  was  a  most 
creditable  act. 

xYlfonso  found  that  the  park  abounded 
in  wild  gorges,  grand  canyons,  dancing 
cascades,  majestic  falls  and  mountains, 
picturesque  lakes,  curious  hot  springs,  and 
awe-inspiring  geysers.  He  and  his  party 
pushed  through  the  Golden  Gate,  marveled 


384   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

at  the  wonders  of  the  Norris  and  Firehole 
Basins,  stood  entranced  before  the  mighty 
Canyon  then  bathed  in  the  transparent 
Yellowstone  Lake,  and  by  nine  o'clock  were 
lulled  to  sleep  in  the  shade  of  fragrant 
pines. 

After  breakfast  next  morning,  while 
Alfonso  and  the  hotel  guests  sat  on  the 
porch,  a  retired  army  captain,  who  had 
served  in  the  Seventh  IT.  S.  Cavalry,  said 
he  wished  a  party  could  be  organized  to 
visit  General  Custer's  monument  east  of 
the  National  Park  on  the  Little  Big  Horn 
Elver.  There  the  Government  had  marked 
the  historic  battleground,  where  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th  of  June,  1876,  two 
hundred  of  the  famous  Seventh  Cavalry 
and  their  brave  leader,  were  overwhelmed 
and  slaughtered  by  2,500  Indians  under  the 
famous  chief,  Sitting  Bull.  Custer  was 
tall  and  slender,  with  blue  eyes  and  long 
light  hair.  He  had  fought  at  Bull  Run 
and  Gettysburg,  and  was  present  at  Lee's 
surrender  at  Appomattox.  He  was  pro 
moted  to  brigadier  general  when  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old,  and  became  major 
general  when  he  was  twenty-five.  Eleven 
horses  were  shot  under  him.  Once  he  saved 
the  flag  by  tearing  it  from  its  staff  and  con- 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    385 

cealing  it  in  his  bosom.  What  Napoleon 
said  of  Ney  is  also  true  of  Ouster,  "He 
was  the  bravest  of  the  brave. ' ' 

The  recital  of  Ouster's  deeds  nerved 
Alfonso  to  renewed  efforts  to  win  Chris 
tine's  hand.  He  declined  with  thanks  to 
join  the  captain's  excursion  party,  and 
early  next  day  rode  south  into  the  upper 
basin  of  the  Park,  which  contains  over 
400  springs  and  geysers;  many  of  the 
springs  in  their  peculiar  shapes,  translu 
cent  waters,  and  variety  and  richness  of 
color,  are  of  exquisite  beauty.  Alfonso 
visited  emerald  and  sapphire  springs, 
where  it  is  said  nymphs,  elfs,  and  fairies 
came  to  bathe,  and  don  their  dainty  dress 
of  flowers  and  jewelled  dew  drops. 

Many  bronzed  tourists  had  assembled, 
and  their  faces  showed  amazement  as  they 
watched  giant  geysers  in  action.  Suddenly 
the  solid  earth  is  tremulous  with  rumbling 
vibrations,  like  those  that  herald  earth 
quakes.  Frightful  gurgling  sounds  are 
audible  in  the  geyser's  throat.  Sputtering 
steam  is  visible  above  the  cone,  the  water 
below  boils  like  a  cauldron,  and  scalding 
hot,  the  eruption  becomes  terribly  violent, 
belching  forth  clouds  of  smoke-like  steam, 
and  hurling  rocks  into  the  air  as  though 


386    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

a  mortar  of  some  feudal  stronghold  had 
been  discharged.  The  stupenduous  column 
of  hot  water  is  veiled  in  spray  as  it  mounts 
towards  heaven.  Boiling  water  is  flowing 
in  brooks  to  the  Firehole  Eiver,  which  is 
soon  swollen  to  a  foaming  torrent  washing 
away  the  bridges  below.  The  valley  is  filled 
with  dense  vapors,  and  the  air  is  laden 
with  sulphurous  fumes,  while  the  hoarse 
rumblings  and  subterranean  tremors  chill 
the  heart.  Beneath  your  feet  are  positive 
evidences  of  eternal  fires,  and  all  about 
you  the  might  of  God.  Alfonso  was  glad 
to  leave  this  region  of  the  supernatural. 
He  hastened  across  the  Snake  Eiver. 
which  winds  through  Idaho,  and  pushed  on 
towards  the  Teton  Eange,  one  of  many 
that  form  the  Eocky  Mts.  In  sight  are 
snow-touched  sentinel  peaks  kissed  by  ear 
liest  and  latest  sun.  The  Eocky  Mts.  or 
Great  Continental  Divide  is  a  continua 
tion  of  the  famous  Andes  of  South 
America,  and  jointly  they  form  the  longest 
and  most  uniform  chain  of  mountains  on 
the  globe.  Amid  the  gorges  of  this  system 
of  mountains,  over  3000  miles  in  length, 
America's  largest  rivers  have  their  birth, 
and  find  their  outlet  into  the  Atlantic, 
Arctic,  and  Pacific  Oceans. 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    387 

These  mountains  are  vast  vaults  that 
will  hold  in  trust  for  centuries  to  come 
untold  supplies  of  precious  metal  for  the 
American  nations.  This  general  fact  did 
not  concern  Alfonso.  He  was  ambitious  to 
unlock  for  his  own  use  only  a  single  box 
of  the  huge  vault.  He  was  familiar  with 
the  wonderful  story  of  Mackay,  Fair, 
Flood,  and  O  'Brien,  Kings  of  the  Comstock 
Lode,  and  owners  of  the  Big  Bonanza,  who 
paid  their  600  miners  five  dollars  per  day 
in  gold,  for  eight  hours'  labor  a  third  of 
a  mile  below  the  earth's  surface.  The 
Comstock  Lode  yielded  over  $5,000,000  per 
month,  or  a  total  output  of  silver  and 
gold  of  over  $250,000,000. 

For  six  long  weary  months  Alfonso  and 
his  companion  searched  for  gold  down  the 
Green  River  and  along  the  river  bottom 
of  the  Grand  Canyon  of  the  Colorado,  till 
they  reached  the  Needles  on  the  A.  &  P. 
Railway.  Thence  they  rode  west  to  Kern 
River.  This  stream  they  followed  on  horse 
back  into  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains, 
all  the  time  searching  for  precious  metals, 
especially  gold.  The  mountains  were 
crossed  over  to  Owen's  Lake,  and  a  river 
traced  north.  Alfonso  was  prospecting  in 
new  fields,  but  his  search  thus  far  was 


388    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

fruitless.  His  companion  sickened  and  died, 
but  Alfonso  bravely  climbed  among  the 
mountains  hoping  to  cross  the  crest  and 
reach  the  cabins  of  friendly  government 
officials  on  duty  in  the  park  of  the  big  trees 
in  Mariposa  County. 

It  was  late  in  the  fall,  grasses  and  leaves 
had  browned,  Alfonso's  horse  had  grown 
thin,  and  being  too  weak  and  lame  to  go 
forward,  finally  died.  His  provisions  had 
given  out;  his  own  strength  and  courage 
had  failed ;  he  needed  water  for  his  parched 
tongue  and  lips,  but  none  was  at  hand; 
fever  quickened  his  pulse.  Sitting  alone  in 
the  shadow  of  a  giant  boulder  that  afforded 
partial  protection  from  the  gathering 
storm,  his  mind  reverted  to  his  home  at 
Harris ville  where  abundance  could  be  had, 
to  his  family  that  thought  him  dead,  and  to 
Christine  across  the  sea,  whom  he  had 
vowed  to  win  with  gold.  All  seemed  lost. 
Alfonso's  head  reeled,  he  fell  back  upon 
the  ground,  and  the  early  snows  seemed 
to  form  for  him  a  shroud. 

Good  fortune  guided  this  way  a  party  of 
Yosemite  Indians,  who  were  returning 
from  an  extended  hunt  for  deer  and  elk. 
They  had  also  slain  a  few  bears  and  a 
couple  of  mountain  lions.  The  dead  horse 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    389 

first  arrested  their  attention,  and  then 
the  exhausted  miner  was  found  asleep 
covered  with  snow.  The  Indians  wrapped 
the  sick  man  at  once  in  a  grizzly  bear  skin, 
fastened  him  to  a  pony,  and  carried  him 
to  their  camp  near  the  big  trees.  It  was 
morning  before  Alfonso  was  conscious  of 
his  surroundings.  Standing  by  him  was  a 
shy  Indian  maiden  with  a  dish  of  hot  soup. 
His  bed,  he  discovered  was  in  a  burned-out 
cavity  of  one  of  the  big  trees.  Near  by 
were  several  tepees,  the  tops  of  which 
emitted  smoke.  Straight,  black-haired  Indi 
ans  in  bright  blankets  moved  slowly  from 
tent  to  tent. 

Alfonso  scarcely  conscious  had  strange 
dreams.  Sometimes  he  thought  he  was  in 
the  Hodoo  Region,  or  Goblin  Land,  the 
abode  of  evil  spirits,  where  he  saw  every 
kind  of  fantastic  beast,  bird,  and  reptile, 
and  no  end  of  spectral  shapes  in  the  wind 
ing  passages  of  a  weird  labyrinth  on  a  far- 
off  island.  Then  his  dreams  were  of  rare 
beauty.  Green  foliage  was  changed  to  pure 
white,  the  trees  became  laden  with  spark 
ling  crystals,  roadways  and  streams  were 
laid  in  shining  silver,  and  geyser-craters 
enlarged  in  strange  forms  resembled  huge 
white  thrones  in  gorgeous  judgment  halls. 


390    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

Such  fleeting  beauty  suggested  to  Alfonso 's 
feverish  brain  the  supernatural,  the  abode 
perhaps  of  spirit  beings.  For  days  the 
medicine  man  and  Mariposa,  daughter  of 
the  Indian  chief,  watched  and  cared  for 
Alfonso,  whose  life  hovered  over  the  grave. 

Mariposa,  Spanish  for  butterfly,  was  a 
fit  name  for  the  pretty  Indian  maiden.  She 
paid  great  deference  not  only  to  her  tall 
father,  Red  Cloud,  but  to  the  pale  faces 
whenever  in  their  presence.  For  four  years 
Mariposa,  unusually  bright,  attended  the 
Indian  school  at  Carlisle,  Pa.;  when  she 
returned  to  her  wild  home  in  the  forest 
she  was  able  to  speak  and  read  the 
language  of  the  pale  face,  and  beside  she 
loved  history  and  poetry. 

One  day,  Alfonso's  health  having  slowly 
improved,  Mariposa  put  in  his  hands  a 
small  pine  cone,  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg, 
and  said,  "  Three  years  go  by  from  the 
budding  to  the  ripening  of  the  seed  of  the 
sequoias,  or  big  trees." 

Alfonso  did  not  know,  till  Mariposa  told 
him  that  the  big  trees  were  called  sequoia 
in  honor  of  a  Cherokee  chief,  Sequoyah, 
who  invented  letters  for  his  people.  She 
also  told  Alfonso  that  there  were  at  least 
ten  groves  of  big  trees  on  the  northern 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    391 

slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  range;  that 
some  of  the  trees  were  thirty  feet  in  diam 
eter,  and  325  feet  in  height;  that  sixteen 
Yosemite  braves  on  their  ponies  had  taken 
refuge  from  a  terrible  storm  in  the  hollow 
of  a  single  sequoia.  Alfonso  prized  highly 
a  cane,  fashioned  by  the  Indian  maiden 
from  a  fallen  Big  Tree.  The  wood  had  a 
pale  red  tint,  and  was  beautifully  marked 
and  polished. 

Part  of  the  Indian  hunting  party  went 
forward  with  the  game,  while  Mariposa, 
Red  Cloud,  and  three  Yosemite  braves  with 
their  ponies,  waited  for  the  handsome  pale 
face  to  recover  partially.  Then  they  rode 
with  Alfonso  among  the  Big  Trees,  past 
Wawona,  toiling  up  long  valleys,  stopping 
now  and  then  to  cook  simple  food.  The 
Indians  followed  a  familiar  trail  up  dark 
gulches,  along  steep  grades,  through  heavy 
timber,  skirting  edges  of  cliffs  and  precipi 
tous  mountains,  the  ruggedness  constantly 
increasing,  till  suddenly  Mariposa  con 
ducted  Alfonso  to  a  high  point  where  his 
soul  was  filled  with  enthusiasm.  Mariposa, 
pointing  to  the  gorge  or  canyon  of  extraor 
dinary  depth,  which  was  floored  with  forest 
trees  and  adorned  with  waterfalls,  said, 
"Here  in  the  Yosemite  (grizzly)  Valley 


392    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

is  the  home  of  my  people.  Here  we  wish 
to  take  you  until  you  are  well.  Will  you 


go?" 


Alfonso,  still  weak  and  pale,  but  trusting 
the  Indian  girl,  replied  "Yes."  The  young 
artist-miner  had  never  seen  such  stupen 
dous  masonry;  the  granite  walls  that  sur 
rounded  the  valley  were  a  succession  of 
peaks  and  domes,  from  three  thousand  to 
four  thousand  feet  high,  all  eloquent  in 
thought  and  design.  Alfonso  began  sketch 
ing,  but  Mariposa  motioned  him  to  put  his 
paper  aside,  and  the  six  Indian  ponies 
with  their  burdens  carefully  picked  their 
way  into  the  paradise  below. 

Red  Cloud,  Mariposa,  Alfonso,  and  the 
braves  were  received  with  expressions  of 
joy  unusual  for  the  stolid  red  men,  and 
Alfonso  was  given  a  tent  to  himself  near 
the  chief's  big  tepee,  close  by  a  broad 
clear  stream,  and  in  the  shadow  of  large 
old  oaks.  Here  for  several  days  Alfonso 
tarried,  grew  stronger,  and  often  walked 
with  pretty  Mariposa.  She  taught  him  a 
novel  method  of  trapping  trout  which 
thronged  the  river.  She  had  him  sketch 
the  reflection  in  Mirror  Lake  of  cathedral 
spires  and  domes,  of  overhanging  granite 
rocks,  and  tall  peaks  of  wildest  grandeur. 

He  also  sketched  several  waterfalls  fed 


The  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    393 

by  melting  snow.  Mariposa 's  favorite  falls 
at  the  entrance  to  the  valley  made  a  single 
leap  of  hundreds  of  feet,  and  when  the 
white  spray  was  caught  by  the  breezes  and 
the  sun,  the  lace-like  mist,  sparkling  like 
diamonds,  swayed  gracefully  in  the  winds 
like  a  royal  bridal  veil.  "The  highest  of  a 
series  of  cascades/'  Mariposa  said,  "was 
called  'The  Yosemite  Falls.'  " 

Here  eagles  soar  above  the  Cap  of 
Liberty  and  other  granite  peaks.  Robins, 
larks,  and  humming  birds  swarm  in  the 
warm  valley,  and  abundance  of  grass 
grows  in  the  meadows  for  the  Indian 
ponies. 

As  Alfonso's  strength  increased,  he 
walked  more  frequently  with  Mariposa 
along  the  banks  of  the  river,  by  the  thickets 
of  young  spruce,  cedar,  and  manzanita 
with  its  oddly  contorted  red  stems.  At 
times,  each  vied  with  the  other  in  bringing 
back  echoes  from  the  lofty  granite  walls  of 
the  valley. 

One  sunset,  as  Alfonso  and  Mariposa  sat 
by  the  river  bank,  Alfonso  holding  the  light 
redwood  cane,  the  gift  of  the  maiden,  he 
took  the  shapely  hand  of  Mariposa  in  his 
own  and  said,  ' '  Mariposa,  I  owe  my  life  to 
you,  and  if  I  am  ever  rich  I  will  come  back 
and  reward  you, ' ' 


394    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

"I  shall  miss  you,"  said  the  maiden 
shyly,  "I  want  no  money;  I  am  happy 
because  you  are  well  again." 

"Mariposa,  I  have  long  searched  for 
gold,"  said  Alfonso,  "but  finally  I  lost 
courage,  became  sick,  and  you  know  the 
rest.  You  have  a  ring  of  beaten  gold  on 
your  finger,  did  it  come  from  near  here  ?  ' ' 

'  *  My  father  gave  it  to  me, ' '  was  all  that 
Mariposa  would  say  about  the  ring  as  they 
separated  for  the  night. 

It  was  past  midnight  when  Alfonso  felt 
someone  pulling  at  his  shoulder.  There  in 
the  moonlight  stood  Mariposa  beckoning 
him  to  come.  Quickly  dressing,  Alfonso  left 
his  tent  without  speaking  as  the  maiden 
put  her  fingers  to  her  lips,  and  quietly 
following  Mariposa  they  walked  by  the 
silver  stream  into  a  wild  gorge.  Graceful 
pines  afforded  cover  for  Mariposa  and 
Alfonso,  as  swift  of  foot,  they  scaled  high 
cliffs,  till  the  Indian  girl  held  aloft  her 
hand,  and  above  in  a  cleft  of  white  quartz 
the  yellow  gold  shone  brightly  in  the 
moon's  rays. 

When  the  time  came  for  Alfonso  to  leave 
the  Yosemite  Valley,  one  of  nature's 
masterpieces,  tears  filled  the  eyes  of  lovely 
Mariposa.  He  earnestly  thanked  Eed  Cloud 


the  Magic  Band  of  Beaten  Gold    395 

and  his  daughter,  and,  saying  goodbye, 
mounted  his  pony,  a  gift  from  Mariposa, 
when  the  girl  ran  to  him  and  whispered. 
"Here,  Alfonso,  is  the  ring;  bring  it  back 
to  me  when  you  are  rich,  but  you  will  forget 
Mariposa. " 

' '  No !  no ! ' '  replied  Alfonso, ' '  I  will  bring 
back  the  ring,  and  you  shall  give  it  to  the 
one  who  makes  you  his  bride/'  Then  the 
Indian  girl  turned  her  face  toward  the 
Bridal  Veil  Falls,  and  Alfonso  rode  sadly 
out  of  the  valley. 

After  several  years,  still  wearing  the 
magic  band  of  beaten  gold,  having  de 
veloped  the  Mariposa  Gold  Mines  into 
property  worth  millions,  Alfonso  left  the 
far  west  to  seek  beautiful  Christine. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

WORKINGS  OF  THE  HARRIS-INGRAM  PLAN 

A  TELEGRAM  received  at  Liverpool  by 
Reuben  Harris  from  Marquis  Leo  Colonna, 
who  at  the  Colonel's  request  went  on  to 
Amsterdam,  verified  the  facts  as  to  Al 
fonso's  death  by  drowning.  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Harris's  journey  back  to  America 
under  leaden  and  unsympathetic  skies  was 
sad  indeed. 

George  and  Gertrude  met  them  on  the 
pier  at  New  York.  The  next  day  at  noon, 
in  deep  mourning,  they  received  the  re 
mains  of  Lucille  from  the  yacht "  Hallena. " 

Ten  days  with  Lucille  on  the  pitiless 
ocean,  and  unable  to  exchange  with  her 
a  word  of  love,  had  sunk  deeply  the  iron 
of  affliction  into  the  soul  of  Harry  Hall. 
He  often  wished  that  he  had  never  been 
born.  He  dreaded  every  new  sunset,  as  the 
darkness  that  gathered  about  his  catafal 
que-yacht  whispered  to  him  of  cruel  fates, 
of  rest  in  the  deep  sea,  and  of  angels' 
songs.  Like  the  silent  vigils  of  certain 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          397 

watchful  plants,  Captain  Hall  carefully 
observed  his  compasses,  studied  the 
weather,  and  often  wished  that  he  too 
might  cross  over  and  rejoin  Lucille. 


Ten  days  went  by  before  Colonel  Harris 
visited  the  offices  of  the  Harris-Ingrain 
Steel  Co.  Then  followed  several  meetings 
of  the  directors,  at  which  it  was  finally 
decided  to  issue  the  following  circular: 

Official  Notice,  No.  27. 
Offices  of  The  Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co., 
400  to  410  Brough  Building, 

Harrisville,  O. 

To  Whom  it  may  Concern, — 

For  the  purpose  of  better  promoting  the 
harmonious  workings  of  capital  and  labor, 
The  Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co.,  Limited,  has 
been  organized,  and  its  scope  of  co-opera 
tion  has  been  planned  on  the  following 
basis. 

Capital    Stock    of    the    Harris- 
Ingram  Steel  Company          .$5,000,000 
Total  number  of  shares     .        .      500,000 
Par  value  each  share  .       ...        .  $10 

The  liability  of  each  stockholder  is 
limited  to  the  amount  of  stock  held.  Half 


398    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

of  the  entire  stock  of  the  corporation  shall 
be  owned  by  so-called  "capital,"  and  half 
by  the  employees  of  the  company,  or  so- 
called  "labor."  The  stock  issued  shall  rep 
resent  the  actual  cash  expended  upon  the 
plant,  and  employed  as  a  working  capital. 
It  is  the  wish  of  the  management  that  each 
employee  in  the  steel  company  shall  own 
at  least  ten  shares  of  the  stock,  and  more, 
if  he  so  desires. 

All  the  stock  bought  is  to  be  paid  for 
in  cash.  A  loan  at  4%  interest,  equal  to 
the  par  value  of  the  stock,  can  be  made  by 
employees,  when  necessary,  to  purchase  a 
limited  amount  of  the  stock.  Ten  per  cent 
of  the  wages  of  all  such  employees  will  be 
retained  as  needed,  which,  with  dividends 
actually  earned  by  the  stock,  will  be 
applied  on  the  amounts  due  for  the  pur 
chase  of  stock  and  real  estate  for  a  home. 
The  new  model  town  will  be  known  as 
Harris-Ingram. 

Two  thousand  acres  of  land  near  the 
mills  will  be  properly  allotted  and  im 
proved  by  the  company  for  homes  for 
the  employees,  and  practical  architects 
have  been  secured.  It  is  further  the  wish 
of  the  steel  company  that  each  employee 
shall  own  a  good  home.  The  size  of  each 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          399 

lot  is  50  ft.  x  200  ft.  and  the  price  peif 
lot  is  $50  which  is  in  proportion  to  the 
original  cost  and  improvement  of  the  allot 
ment,  so  that  the  employees  in  advance 
will  thus  secure  all  the  profits  that  result 
from  any  increased  value  of  the  lots.  This 
is  only  just, 

A  Stock  and  Building  Bureau  will  be 
established,  and  money,  at  4%,  will  be 
furnished  the  employees  to  build  comfort 
able  homes.  This  bureau  created  and 
officered  by  the  employees  will  attend  to 
the  purchase  and  sale  of  stock,  lots,  the 
construction  of  homes,  and  the  payment 
for  the  same.  When  for  any  reason,  an 
employee  desires  to  sever  his  connection! 
with  the  steel  company,  his  stock  in  the 
company  and  his  home,  if  sold,  must  first 
be  offered  at  a  fair  price  to  the  Stock  and 
Building  Bureau. 

By  this  scheme  capital  and  labor  will 
have  equal  interests  in  the  Harris-Ingrain 
Steel  Co.,  also  an  equal  voice  in  the  man 
agement  of  the  steel  company's  welfare. 
Should  capital  and  labor  disagree,  then 
the  matter  in  dispute,  with  all  the  facts, 
and  before  any  strike  on  the  part  of  labor 
shall  occur,  shall  at  once  be  submitted  to 


400    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

arbitration,  and  the  decision  of  the  arbi 
trators  shall  be  final. 

Signed  by 

GEOKGE  INGRAM, 
President  of  The  Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co. 

* 

In  eight  months  George  Ingram  had 
spent  of  the  five  millions  at  his  disposal 
three  million  dollars  on  the  steel  plant.  A 
working  capital  of  $500,000  was  deposited 
in  four  banks,  and  the  balance  of  one  and 
a  half  millions  was  invested  in  call  loans, 
and  so  held  ready  to  loan  in  small  amounts 
at  4%,  to  aid  employees  in  securing  their 
quota  of  stock,  a  lot  and  house. 

In  twelve  months,  the  $2,500,000  stock 
of  the  company,  allotted  to  labor,  had  been 
subscribed  for  by  the  employees,  over  a 
thousand  pretty  cottages,  costing  from 
$1,000  to  $2,500  each,  were  built  or  in 
process  of  construction,  and  nearly  three 
thousand  lots  had  been  bought  by  the 
workmen. 

A  Co-operative  Supply  Bureau  was 
organized  and  managed  in  the  interests  of 
the  workmen,  to  furnish  food,  clothing,  and 
all  the  necessary  comforts  of  life  at  about 
cost  prices.  The  profits  of  the  bureau,  if 
any,  were  to  be  divided  annually  among 


I 


The  Harris-Ingram  Plan 

purchasers,  in  proportion  to  purchases 
made. 

Women  in  Harris-Ingram  voted  on 
several  matters  the  same  as  the  men. 
Saloons,  all  forms  of  gambling,  and  cor 
ruption  in  politics  were  tabooed.  Sewer 
age  was  scientifically  treated  by  the  use 
of  chemicals  and  machinery.  Storm  water 
only  was  sent  to  the  lake.  The  valuable 
portions  of  the  sewerage  were  utilized  on 
adjacent  vegetable  farms.  At  Harris- 
Ingram  electrical  energy  supplied  water 
free  for  streets,  lawns,  and  gardens,  and 
filtered  water  was  delivered  free  for  fam 
ily  purposes.  All  the  public  buildings  and 
homes  were  heated  and  lighted  by  electric- 
ity. 

A  Transportation  Bureau  was  organized 
to  manage  the  electric  railways  in  the 
interests  of  the  people,  and  the  fare  was 
reduced  to  two  cents.  Everybody  rode,  and 
the  receipts  were  astonishingly  large  and 
quite  sufficient  to  meet  expenses  and  leave 
a  profit,  which  went  into  the  town  treasury. 
Thus  the  people  received  large  benefits 
from  the  electric  railway,  conduits  for 
wires,  gas  privileges,  and  other  franchises. 

Electricity  also  propelled  the  pleasure 
launches  and  fishing  boats.  The  smoke 
nuisance  was  a  vexatious  trouble  of  the 


402    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

past.  Life  for  the  laborer  and  his  family 
ceased  to  be  a  burden.  Eight  hours  were 
given  to  conscientious  labor,  eight  hours 
to  physical,  mental,  and  moral  improve 
ments,  and  eight  hours  to  rest. 

By  the  Harris  beneficences  all  the 
employees  became  personally  interested 
in  the  profitable  workings  of  the  steel 
plant.  The  profits  of  the  business  also  were 
greatly  increased  by  the  valuable  inven 
tions  of  the  Ingrains. 

The  money  advanced  to  the  employees 
was  rapidly  returned  through  the  com 
pany's  treasurer  to  Colonel  Harris,  and 
by  him,  and  later  by  his  heirs,  was  again 
invested  in  other  lines  of  practical  benevo 
lence.  The  act  which  gave  Colonel  Harris 
most  comfort  was  his  righting  the  great 
wrong  done  James  Ingram,  his  early 
joint-partner,  and  father  of  George,  his 
son-in-law.  Colonel  Harris  held  $2,500,000 
of  the  steel  company's  stock.  He  disposed 
of  this  stock  as  follows:— 

To   George  and  Gertrude,  each 

$250,000  or  ....  $500,000 
To  James  Ingram,  early  partner  1,000,000 
Retaining  for  himself  only  .  1,000,000 

Total  .$2,500,000 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          403 

Since  his  return  Reuben  Harris  had  aged 
rapidly,  his  hair  having  whitened,  caused 
probably  by  the  loss  of  his  only  son  and 
lovely  daughter.  His  joy  on  account  of 
the  success  of  the  Co-operative  Steel  Mills 
could  not  banish  his  intense  grief.  He  had 
performed  his  life  work,  and  the  cares  and 
burdens  of  the  new  enterprise  he  had 
placed  upon  George  Ingram  in  whom  he 
had  full  confidence.  He  had  seen  much  in 
his  travels  abroad;  and  now  he  had  learned 
a  most  valuable  lesson,  taught  by  the 
Savior  himself,  that  it  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive. 

At  the  close  of  a  long  summer  day,  as 
the  golden  sun  dropped  into  blue  Lake 
Erie,  the  life  of  Reuben  Harris  passed  from 
sight.  It  was  a  strange  coincidence  that 
the  papers  Monday  morning  should  con 
tain  parallel  obituary  notices  of  both 
Reuben  Harris  and  James  Ingram.  To 
gether  they  had  labored  earnestly  for 
humanity,  each  in  his  own  way,  and  now 
reconciled,  together  they  entered,— 

"The  undiscovered  country  from  whose  bourne 
No  traveller  returns." 

The  four  thousand  employees,  in  a  body, 
attended  the  double  funeral.  Each  man  had 
been  the  recipient  of  tangible  assistance 


404   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

from  both  Harris  and  Ingram,  and  each 
laborer  felt  that  he  had  lost  a  personal 
friend.  It  was  a  touching  scene  as  the 
four  regiments  of  employees,  each  wearing 
evidence  of  mourning  on  his  arm,  filed  past 
the  two  open  caskets.  Each  employee  left 
a  rose  on  the  caskets  till  both  were  hidden 
from  sight.  The  thousands  of  roses  were 
more  eloquent  than  marble  or  bronze.  Dur 
ing  the  week,  the  employees  each  contrib 
uted  the  wages  of  two  days  for  bronze 
statues  of  their  late  employers. 

George  and  Gertrude  felt  keenly  the  loss 
of  their  fathers.  They  also  become  con 
scious  of  increased  responsibilities,  but 
each  had  courage,  and  good  cheer  was  im 
parted  if  either  faltered  or  stood  beneath 
gray  skies.  Their  home  life  was  delightful. 
Each  possessed  the  art  of  controlling  tri 
fles;  thus  troubles  were  minimized  and 
joys  were  magnified. 

Later  twins,  a  boy  and  girl,  entered  their 
home,  and  the  mother  said,  "If  you  call 
our  son  George  Ingram,  Jr.,  I  shall  call 
our  daughter  Gertrude  Ingram,  Jr.," 
and  so  there  lived  under  the  same  roof 
George  I.  and  George  II.,  Gertrude  I.  and 
Gertrude  II, 

Gertrude    proved    a    model    wife    and 


The  Harris-Ingram  Plan          405 

mother.  The  mystery  of  woman's  love  and 
purity  is  no  longer  a  secret  when  we  watch 
the  mother  in  touch  with  innocent  children. 
Gertrude  gave  home  duties  prominence 
over  all  others,  with  the  blessed  result 
that  George  found  more  attractions  in  his 
own  home  than  in  clubs  or  in  the  homes 
of  his  friends. 

To  do  daily  some  little  favor  for  his 
wife,  as  in  lover  days,  gave  him  much 
pleasure.  Every  night  George  came  home 
with  a  new  book,  rare  flowers,  or  fruit,  the 
first  of  the  season,  or  some  novel  play 
thing  for  his  "Two  GV  as  he  often 
called  the  little  twins.  Gertrude  occasion 
ally  rebuked  her  husband  for  spending  the 
money  foolishly,  as  she  said,  but  then 
remembrance  of  his  family  when  down 
town  gratified  her.  Wives  miss  and  long 
for  appreciation  more  than  for  better  dress 
or  money.  If,  on  return  to  tea,  the  bread 
is  good,  the  thoughtful  husband  speaks  of 
it.  If  the  table-cloth  is  white  or  if  the 
arrangement  of  the  meal  is  artistic,  he 
speaks  of  it.  A  single  word  of  honest 
approval  makes  the  wife  happy. 

Sometimes  Gertrude  wondered  why  the 
marriage  ceremony  so  often  untied  lovers ' 
knots,  and  why  after  marriage  love  and 


406    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

esteem  did  not  increase.  She  never  forgot 
the  advice  of  an  old  lady,  too  poor  to 
make  her  a  wedding  present,  who  told  her 
that  if  she  wished  to  be  happy  in  marriage 
she  must  always  keep  two  bears  in  her 
home,  bear  and  forbear. 

George  and  his  wife  were  human,  and 
not  unlike  other  people.  Now  and  then 
George  would  say  to  his  intimate  friends, 
"The  Ingrams  like  most  New  Englanders 
did  not  come  over  in  the  Mayflower  as  the 
passenger  list  was  full,  neither  do  the 
Ingrams  belong  to  that  very  large  number 
of  families  who  feel  the  necessity  of  say 
ing,  'We  have  never  had  an  unkind  word 
in  our  home.'  Gertrude  and  I  both  have 
strong  wills,  and  we  often  differ  in  opin 
ions,  but  as  often  we  agree  to  disagree. 
In  this  manner  we  avoid  sunken  rocks  that 
might  wreck  our  ship." 

One  day,  Irene,  George's  youngest  sister, 
asked  Gertrude  for  a  painting  of  herself 
and  of  George.  "Too  expensive,  Irene," 
replied  Gertrude,  "couldn't  think  of  it  for 
a  moment." 

"No,  Gertrude,  I  want  only  a  tiny  pic 
ture  of  your  thumb  and  George's." 

"What  in  the  world  do  you  want  of  our 
thumbs?" 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          407 

"Because,  Gertrude,  George  tells  me 
privately  that  he  has  you  completely  under 
his  thumb,  and  you  always  act  as  if  you 
thought  you  had  George  under  your 
thumb.'' 

Gertrude  and  George  were  strong  and 
helpful,  both  educated,  unselfish  and  ambi 
tious;  why  should  they  not  succeed?  Ger 
trude  had  learned  that  good  and  great 
people  are  also  sometimes  selfish.  When  a 
little  girl,  she  was  present  with  her  father 
who  was  invited  to  take  dinner  with  a  dis 
tinguished  divine.  The  good  doctor  of 
divinity  did  the  carving,  and  adroitly 
managed  to  keep  for  his  own  plate  the 
tenderest  piece  of  steak.  Colonel  Harris 
observed  the  fact,  and  enjoying  a  joke, 
casually  observed,  "Doctor,  how  well  you 
carve!"  The  good  man  saw  his  breach 
of  hospitality  and  blushed,  remarking, 
"Colonel,  you  must  forgive  me  for  I  be 
lieve  I  was  born  with  a  delicate  stomach." 

Business  cares  were  locked  up  in  the 
office  desk  down  town,  and  Gertrude  forgot 
home  annoyances  as  soon  as  George  was 
seen  coming  up  the  lawn,  and  she  and  the 
twins  ran  to  meet  "papa."  He  always 
brought  home  the  latest  literary  and 
scientific  magazines  and  journals,  while 


408    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  reviews  of  America  and  London  kept 
the  family  up-to-date  on  the  latest  books 
and  leading  topics.  George's  vacations 
were  sometimes  taken  with  his  own 
employees,  all  of  whom  in  the  heated 
months,  had  two  weeks  off,  some  camping 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  others  taking 
boat  excursions  to  neighboring  groves,  or 
enjoying  the  outdoor  band  concerts  which 
were  furnished  every  other  evening  on  the 
public  park. 

What  concerned  his  employees,  con 
cerned  him.  When  any  of  his  workmen  were 
injured  or  sick,  the  company  at  once  sent 
a  surgeon  or  physician.  Rightly,  he  thought 
it  more  important  that  an  employee  should 
be  kept  in  good  working  order  than  even 
his  best  piece  of  machinery. 

George  Ingrain  was  once  heard  to  say 
that  eleven  letters  covered  a  large  part 
of  his  religion,  and  that  he  wished  he  could 
write  across  the  blue  dome  in  letters  of 
gold  the  word  "Helpfulness."  To  assist  an 
unfortunate  individual  permanently  to  help 
himself,  is  preaching  a  gospel  that  betters 
the  world. 

The  community  of  Harris-Ingram  had 
little  or  no  poverty.  Everybody  had  money 
in  the  savings  bank,  or  accumulations  go- 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          409 

ing  into  pretty  homes,  and  mill  stock,  and 
all  respected  law  and  order,  hence  few 
if  any  policemen  were  ever  seen  on  the 
streets.  Everybody  was  well  dressed, 
courteous,  and  daily  growing  more  intelli 
gent.  Taxes  were  light,  and  general  im 
provements  were  economically  and  prompt 
ly  made. 

Both  George  and  Gertrude  believed  that 
the  tendency  of  the  age  was  towards  more 
practical  education  for  the  people.  London 
publishes  millions  of  penny  books,  penny 
histories  and  biographies,  penny  arithme 
tics,  astronomies  and  dictionaries,  and 
penny  books  to  teach  good  behavior,  honor, 
and  patriotism.  In  London  and  elsewhere, 
the  people  were  organizing  workmen's 
clubs,  colleges,  and  institute  unions,  for 
mutual  improvement,  and  glimpses  were 
already  caught  of  Morris 's  ' i  Earthly  Para 
dise  that  is  to  be. ' ' 

"Then  a  man  shall  work  and  bethink  him,  and 

rejoice  in  the  deeds  of  his  hand, 
Nor  yet  come  home  in  the  even  too  faint  and 

weary  to  stand. 

Men  in  that  time  a-coming  shall  work  and  have 
no  fear 


410    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

For  to-morrow's  lack  of  earning  and  the  hungry- 
wolf  a-near. 

Ob,  strange,  new,  wonderful  justice !  But  for 
whom  shall  we  gather  the  gain? 

For  ourselves  and  for  each  of  our  fellows,  and 
no  hand  shall  labor  in  vain." 

Free  night  schools  over  the  country,  for 
the  child  of  eight  to  the  man  of  eighty, 
will  go  a  long  way  in  solving  the  trouble 
some  socialistic  problem. 

George  was  familiar  with  the  generous 
gifts  and  deeds  of  the  Pratts  of  Baltimore, 
and  of  Brooklyn,  of  Carnegie,  of  Lorillard 
&  Co.,  of  Warner  Brothers  of  Connecticut, 
and  of  the  Messrs.  Tangye  of  Birmingham. 
England.  The  latter  firm  provides  for  its 
thousands  of  workmen  a  library,  evening 
classes,  and  twice  a  week,  while  the  em 
ployees  are  at  dinner  in  a  great  hall,  a 
twenty  minutes  crisp  talk  by  capable  per 
sons  on  some  live  topic. 

George  Ingram  organized  an  Educa 
tional  Bureau  for  the  improvement  of  his 
employees  and  others  by  evening  schools 
and  public  entertainments.  As  requisite  for 
the  success  of  such  a  bureau  as  he  planned, 
he  published  the  conditions  as  follows: — 
1.  Several  study  rooms  and  good  teachers. 


The  Harris-Ing  ram  Plan          411 

2.  A  large  and  cheerful   hall,  church  or 

opera  house  for  lectures,  that  the 
prices  may  be  low,  the  audience  must 
be  large. 

3.  A  capable  committee  or  manager,  en 

thusiasm,  good  temper,  fertility  of 
resource  and  sympathy  with  the  peo 
ple.  Common  sense  coupled  with 
determined  perseverance  works  won 
ders. 

4.  Variety  and  quality  in  the  entertain 

ment,  with  no  wearying  pauses  between 
the  parts.  The  movement  must  be 
swift  and  sure. 

5.  Punctuality  and  business-like  thorough 

ness  in  the  management.  Begin  and 
end  on  the  minute.  Give  exactly  what 
you  promise;  or,  if  that  be  impossible. 
what  will  be  recognized  as  a  full  equiv 
alent.  Ideas,  not  words,  old  or  new  on 
every  helpful  subject  in  the  universe, 
spoken  or  illustrated.  Music  that  rests 
or  inspires,  and  is  understood. 

6.  Sell  5,000  season  tickets  at  $1.00  in  ad 

vance  to  secure  a  guarantee  fund ;  this 
is  sound  business,  as  success  is  then 
assured,  and  it  will  not  depend  upon 
the  weather. 


412    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

7.  Have  prominent  citizens  preside  at  each 
entertainment,    but    pledge    them    to 
crisp  introduction.  High  grade  enter 
tainments     wisely     managed,     prove 
themselves  of  benign  influence,  and  an 
agency  more  potent  than  many  laws  in 
the  preservation  of  peace  and  the  re 
form  of  public  morals. 
When  Colonel  Harris's  will  was  pro 
bated,   two-thirds   of   the   balance   of  his 
fortune  was  left  in  trust  with  Mrs.  Harris, 
George,  and  Gertrude,  to  be  used  for  the 
public  welfare,  as  they  deemed  wisest.  The 
trustees   used  $100,000   to   build  for   the 
Workmen's   Club  a   large  and  attractive 
Central  Hall,  that  had  steep  double  gal 
leries,  and  five  thousand  opera  chairs. 

Several  necessary  committees  were 
organized  and  George  Ingrain's  gospel  of 
Helpfulness  found  another  practical  ex 
pression.  The  Educational  Bureau  was  not 
a  gratuity  in  any  of  its  departments,  as 
small  fees  were  charged  in  all  the  evening 
classes,  which  were  crowded  with  old  and 
young.  For  twenty  consecutive  Saturday 
evenings  in  the  winter  season,  a  four-fold 
intellectual  treat  was  furnished  at  $1.00 
for  tickets  for  the  entire  course. 

By    7:30    o'clock    in    the    evening    the 


The  Harris -Ing  ram  Plan          413 

Central  Hall  was  packed  to  the  walls,  no 
reserved  seats  were  sold,  and  the  rule 
was  observed  "  First  come,  first  served, " 
which  brought  promptly  the  audience.  Sea 
son  ticket-holders  had  the  exclusive  right 
to  the  hall  till  7:25  o'clock,  when  a  limited 
number  of  single  admission  tickets  were 
sold.  A  large  force  of  polite  ushers  assisted 
in  seating  the  people,  and  in  keeping  order. 
At  7 :30  all  the  entrance  doors  were  closed, 
so  that  late  comers  never  disturbed  the 
audience. 

The  musical  prelude,  or  orchestra  con 
cert  of  thirty  minutes  closed  at  7:30  with 
a  grand  chorus  by  the  audience  standing; 
following  this,  precisely  at  7:30  was  the 
half-hour  lecture-prelude  on  some  scien 
tific  or  practical  subject.  Among  the  topics 
treated  were  "Wrongs  of  Workingmen, 
and  How  to  Right  Them,"  "The  Terminal 
Glacier,"  "Sewerage  and  Ventilation," 
"The  Pyramids,"  "Wonders  of  the  House 
we  Live  in,"  "Architecture  Illustrated," 
etc. 

From  8:00  to  8:15  followed  the  popular 
Singing  School,  in  which  five  thousand 
persons  heartily  joined,  aided  by  an  enthu 
siastic  precentor,  and  orchestra,  in  singing 
national  hymns  and  other  music.  During 


414    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

the  singing  school  everybody  stood,  and 
with  windows  lowered,  fresh  air  and  music 
swept  through  the  hall  and  the  hearts  of 
the  audience. 

From  8 :15to9 :30  was  given  the  principal 
attraction  of  the  evening,  a  popular  lecture, 
dramatic  reading,  debate  on  some  burning 
question,  or  a  professional  concert.  The 
entertainments  always  closed  promptly 
at  9 :30,  as  many  electric  cars  were  in  wait 
ing.  During  the  season,  free  lectures  on 
"The  Art  of  Cooking,"  "How  to  Dress," 
"The  Care  of  Children,"  "Housekeeping 
in  General,"  "The  Culture  of  Flowers," 
etc.,  etc.,  were  given  at  3  P.  M.  in  the  great 
hall  to  the  wives  and  friends  of  all  the 
ticket  holders. 

The  circulation  of  useful  literature  was 
another  important  feature  of  the  Educa 
tional  Bureau  work.  At  each  entertain 
ment  five  thousand  little  books  of  forty 
pages  each,  a  wagon-load,  were  given  to 
the  owners  of  course  tickets,  as  they 
entered  the  hall.  These  pamphlets  included 
' '  A  Short  History  of  France, "  or  "  History 
of  the  United  States,"  "Story  of  the 
Steam  Engine,"  "A  Brief  History  of 
Science,"  an  "Essay  on  Early  Man," 
"Great  Artists,"  "Secrets  of  Success," 


The  Harris-Ingram  Plan          415 

etc.  Each  little  book  contained  the  even 
ing's  programme,  the  words  and  music  of 
at  least  two  national  hymns,  and  "Owl 
Talks, "  a  single  page  of  crisp  thoughts, 
to  whet  one's  wits.  At  the  close  of  each 
season  the  twenty  pamphlets,  continuously 
paged,  were  bound  for  fifty  cents  in  two 
volumes  with  covers  of  red  cloth.  Thus 
the  people  got  much  for  little,  and  they 
were  benefited  and  pleased  with  their  bar 
gain.  Encores  and  the  discourtesy  of 
stamping  the  feet  and  leaving  the  hall  be 
fore  the  performance  was  concluded  were 
abolished.  Palms  and  fragrant  flowers  were 
always  on  the  platform.  Everybody  list 
ened  attentively  to  the  kindly  words  of 
teacher,  orator,  or  poet;  new  impulses  were 
received,  and  all  rejoiced  in  the  supply 
and  satisfaction  of  their  deepest  and  best 
wants.  Feelings  of  a  common  brotherhood 
made  hearts  happier  and  lives  better. 

Workmen  went  home  sober  with  their 
week's  earnings  in  their  pockets,  as  there 
were  no  saloons  in  the  town,  a  bright  book 
to  read,  and  a  home  of  their  own  for  shelter 
and  rest.  Thus  also  an  improved  citizen 
ship  was  obtained  and  the  nation  was  made 
stronger. 

George    Ingram    thought    that    all    our 


416    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

cities  should  have  large,  cheerful  halls, 
people's  forums,  where  clear  and  simple 
truths  on  important  questions  should  be 
taught.  He  believed  that  it  would  prove 
an  antidote  to  various  forms  of  anarchy 
and  communism,  which  under  the  aegis  of 
liberty  are  being  advocated  in  our  cities. 

The  trustees  of  the  Harris  estate  set 
aside  $250,000,  to  be  known  as  "The 
Eeuben  Harris  Fund,"  to  assist  in  pro 
viding  regular  courses  of  free  public  lect 
ures  upon  the  most  important  branches  of 
natural  and  moral  science,  also  free  in 
struction  to  mechanics  and  artisans  in 
drawing,  and  in  practical  designing,  in  pat 
terns  for  prints,  silks,  paper  hangings,  car 
pets,  furniture,  etc.  Free  courses  of  lect 
ures  were  given  to  advanced  students  in 
art,  also  lectures  in  physics,  geology, botany, 
physiology,  and  the  like  for  teachers,  and 
the  public. 

Gertrude  felt  that  the  perpetuity  and 
usefulness  of  such  a  fund  or  monument 
dedicated  to  her  father  would  outrival  the 
pyramids.  She  greatly  encouraged  among 
the  wives  of  the  workmen  the  growth  of 
kindergartens  for  children,  and  the  culti 
vation  of  flowers,  in  and  out  of  their  homes, 
offering  valuable  prizes  at  annual  flower 


The  Harris-Ingram  Plan          417 

shows.  Harris ville  voted  to  annex  the 
village  of  Harris-Ingram,  hoping  that  the 
gospel  of  helpfulness  that  had  worked 
such  wonders  might  leaven  their  whole  city. 
George  Ingram  was  now  forty  years  of 
age.  His  great  ability  and  practical  good 
sense  had  arrested  the  attention  and  admir 
ation  of  not  only  his  own  employees,  but 
of  the  citizens  of  Harrisville,  who  de 
manded  that  he  should  be  chosen  mayor  of 
the  city. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

UNEXPECTED  MEETINGS 

CHEISTINE  DE  RUYTEB  had  long  contem 
plated  a  visit  to  the  new  world.  She  was 
familiar  with  the  history  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  a  political  movement 
organized  under  cover  of  finding  a  pas 
sage  to  Cathay,  to  destroy  the  results  of 
Spanish  conquest  in  America. 

No  doubt,  love  of  discovery  and  of  trade 
also  stimulated  the  Dutch  in  making  ex 
plorations.  In  the  vessel  "Half  Moon" 
they  sailed  up  the  Hudson,  and  after  build 
ing  several  forts,  they  finally  established 
themselves  in  New  Netherlands.  Peter 
Minuit  for  a  trifle  bought  from  the  Indians 
the  whole  of  Manhattan  Island.  In  locat 
ing  on  Manhattan  Island,  the  Dutch  secret 
ly  believed  that  they  had  secured  the  oyster 
while  the  English  settlements  further 
north  and  south  were  the  two  shells  only. 
The  development  of  almost  three  centuries 
and  the  supremacy  of  New  York  today, 
as  the  new  world  metropolis,  verifies  the 
sound  sense  of  the  Dutch. 


Unexpected  Meetings  419 

Christine  was  alive  to  the  important 
part  which  her  countrymen  had  early 
played  across  the  Atlantic.  Her  mother 
had  died,  and  Christine  still  unmarried, 
controlled  hoth  her  time  and  a  goodly  in 
heritance.  She  resolved  to  visit  her  sister 
Fredrika,  whose  husband  was  agent  in  New 
York  of  a  famous  German  line  of  vessels. 

En  route  from  Holland  to  New  York 
she  spent  two  weeks  with  friends  in  Lon 
don,  and  on  Regent  Street  replenished  her 
wardrobe,  enjoyed  Irving  and  Terry  in 
their  latest  play,  attended  an  exciting 
Cambridge-Oxford  boat-race  on  the 
Thames,  and  with  a  great  crowd  went  wild 
with  delight  at  the  English  races  at  Epsom 
Downs. 

Saturday  at  9:40  A.  M.  at  the  Waterloo 
Station  several  friends  saw  Christine  off 
for  America  on  the  special  train,  the  Eagle 
Express,  of  the  South  Western  Eailway, 
which  makes  the  journey  of  79  miles  to 
Southampton  in  one  hour  and  forty  min 
utes. 

At  Southampton  the  passengers  were 
transferred  on  the  new  express  dock, 
direct  from  the  train  to  the  steamers, 
which  are  berthed  alongside.  By  this  route 
passengers  escape  exposure  to  weather  on 
tenders  and  landing  stage,  and  avoid  all 


420    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

delays  at  ports  of  call,  and  waiting  for  the 
tides  to  cross  the  bar. 

Promptly  at  12  o'clock,  hawsers  and 
gangways  vanishing,  the  great  steamer 
moved  down  the  bay,  the  fertile  Isle  of 
Wight  in  sight.  Officers  made  note  of  the 
time  as  the  Needles  were  passed,  as  the 
runs  of  the  steamers  are  taken  between 
the  Needles  and  Sandy  Hook.  It  was  a 
bright  breezy  afternoon  and  after  luncli 
the  passengers  lounged  on  the  decks,  or  in 
the  smoke  room;  some  inspected  their 
rooms,  some  read  the  latest  French  or 
English  novel,  and  others  in  groups  gos 
siped,  or  walked  the  decks  to  sharpen  ap 
petite. 

The  second  steward,  of  necessity  a  born 
diplomat,  had  succeeded  in  convincing  most 
who  were  at  lunch  that  he  had  given  them 
favored  seats,  if  not  all  at  the  Captain's 
table,  then  at  the  table  of  the  first  officer, 
a  handsome  man,  or  at  the  table  with  the 
witty  doctor. 

Christine  did  not  appear  at  lunch,  as  she 
was  busy  in  her  stateroom.  She  had  given 
careful  instructions  that  one  of  her  trunks 
should  be  sent  at  once  to  her  room.  An 
hour  before  dinner  there  appeared  on  the 
promenade  deck  a  beautiful  young  woman 
dressed  in  black,  who  attracted  attention 


Unexpected  Meetings  421 

and  no  little  comment.  She  wore  a  dress  oi' 
Henrietta  cloth,  and  cape  trimmed  with 
black  crepe  and  grosgrained  ribbons  in 
bows  with  long  ends.  Her  tiny  hat  with 
narrow  band  of  white  crepe  was  of  the 
Marie  Stuart  style;  her  gloves  were  un 
dressed  kid,  her  handkerchief  had  black 
border,  and  her  silk  parasol  was  draped 
in  black. 

Hers  was  the  same  pretty  face  and  blue 
eyes  that  had  won  Alfonso's  heart.  She 
supposed  him  dead;  her  dress  of  mourning 
was  not  for  him,  but  for  her  mother,  whom 
she  idolized.  At  first  Christine  hesitated 
about  wearing  black  on  the  journey,  but 
she  soon  learned  that  it  increased  her 
charms,  and  that  it  gave  protection  from 
annoyance.  Many  supposed  she  was  a 
young  widow.  So  thought  a  handsome 
naval  officer  whom  she  had  met  in  London. 
When  Christine  returned  to  her  room,  she 
found  that  a  messenger  boy  had  brought 
her  his  card,  with  compliments,  and  a  re 
quest  that  she  occupy  a  seat  at  his  table 
for  the  voyage.  With  a  black  jacket  on  her 
arm,  Christine  was  conducted  to  her  seat 
at  dinner  by  the  chief  steward.  She  wore 
a  plain  black  skirt  and  waist  of  black  and 
white,  with  black  belt  and  jet  buckle. 

An    up-to-date    liner    is    a    sumptuous 


422    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

hotel  afloat.  The  safety,  speed,  and  com 
fort  of  the  modern  steamer  does  not 
destroy  but  rather  enhances  the  romance 
of  ocean  voyage.  The  handsome  young  offi 
cer  and  pretty  Christine,  as  they  promen 
aded  the  decks,  added  effect  to  the  passing 
show.  Her  mourning  costume  gradually 
yielded  to  outing  suits  of  violet  tints  with 
white  collar  and  cuffs,  and  a  simple  black 
sailor's  cap  with  white  cord  for  band. 

Artist  that  Christine  was,  and  lover  of 
the  ocean,  she  and  the  officer  watched  the 
sea  change  from  a  transient  green  to  a 
light  blue  and  back  again,  then  to  a  deep 
blue  when  the  sun  was  hidden  in  a  cloud, 
then,  when  the  fogs  were  encountered,  to 
a  cold  grey. 

Christine  took  great  interest  in  the  easy 
navigation  of  the  steamer ;  she  watched  the 
officers  take  observations,  and  verify  the 
ship's  run.  Frequently  she  was  seen  with 
the  young  officer  on  the  bridge,  he  pointing 
out  the  lighthouse  on  the  dangerous  Scilly 
Islands,  the  last  sight  of  old  England  off 
Land's  End,  she  enjoying  the  long  swell 
and  white  crested  billows,  as  the  shelter 
of  the  British  coast  was  left  behind. 

A  charming  first  night  aboard  ship  it 
was,  the  moon  full,  the  sky  picturesque, 


Unexpected  Meetings  423 

the  sea  dark,  except  where  the  steamer  and 
her  screws  churned  it  white;  at  the  bow, 
showers  and  spray  of  phosphorus,  and 
at  the  stern,  rippling  eddies  and  a  long 
path  of  phosphorus  and  white  foam. 

Christine  wished  she  could  transfer  to 
canvas  the  swift  steamer,  as  she  felt  it  in 
her  soul,  powerful  as  a  giant  and  graceful 
as  a  woman;  at  the  masthead  an  electric 
star,  red  and  green  lights  on  either  side, 
long  rows  of  tremulous  bulbs  of  light  from 
numerous  portholes;  the  officers  on  the 
bridge  with  night  glass  in  hand,  walking  to 
and  fro,  dark  figures  of  sailors  at  the  bow 
and  in  the  crow's  nest,  all  eyes  and  ears. 
"All's  well"  lulls  to  sleep  the  after-dinner 
loungers  in  chairs  along  the  deck,  while 
brave  men  and  fair  women  keep  step  to 
entrancing  music. 

With  a  week  of  favorable  weather,  and 
unprecedented  speed  the  record  out  was 
won;  officers,  sailors,  passengers,  all  were 
jubilant.  On  Pier  14,  North  River,  Fredrika 
and  her  husband  met  Christine,  and  drove 
to  their  fine  home  overlooking  the  Central 

Park. 

****** 

Alfonso  Harris  had  come  on  to  New 
York  to  spend  a  week  of  pleasure;  already 


424    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

he  had  secured  his  ticket  for  Amsterdam 
via  Antwerp  by  the  Red  Star  Line.  He  was 
prepared  to  keep  his  promise  to  Christine, 
"To  match  gold  with  gold!" 

In  his  rounds  among  the  artists  he 
happened  to  step  into  the  Art  Student's 
League,  and  there  learned  that  his  old 
artist-chum,  Leo,  was  in  New  York,  and 
stopping  at  the  Plaza  Hotel.  At  once  he 
took  cab,  and,  surely  enough,  there  on  the 
hotel  register  was  the  name  Leo  Colonna, 
Eome.  Alfonso  sent  up  his  card,  and  the 
waiter  soon  returned  with  the  reply,  ' '  The 
marquis  will  see  Mr.  Harris  at  once  in 
his  rooms."  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the 
marquis  was  both  shocked  and  delighted 
to  see  alive  a  friend  whom  he  supposed 
long  ago  dead. 

After  dinner  Alfonso  and  Leo  drove  to 
their  old  club,  and  as  ever  talked  and  con 
fided  in  each  other.  Alfonso  told  the 
marquis  the  romantic  story  of  his  life, 
of  his  pecuniary  success,  and  that  he  should 
sail  in  a  few  days  to  wed  Christine,  if 
possible. 

The  marquis  hesitated  in  his  reply,  as 
if  in  doubt  whether  to  proceed  or  not. 
Observing  this,  Alfonso  said,"  Speak  free 
ly,  tell  me  what  you  were  thinking  about." 


Unexpected  Meetings  425 

"Nothing,  Alfonso,  only  a  report  I  heard 
at  the  club  last  night. " 

"What  report,  marquis!" 

"A  report  or  story  concerning  a  beauti 
ful  widow,  who  had  just  arrived  from 
Amsterdam.  From  the  minute  description 
given — she  had  fair  face,  blue  eyes,  fleecy 
hair  and  loved  art — I  suspected  that  the 
woman  in  black  might  be  Christine  De  Ruy- 
ter." 

"You  surprise  me,  Leo,  but  what  was 
the  report?" 

"Alfonso,  pardon  me,  I  have  said  too 
much  already." 

"No,  go  on  and  tell  me  all." 

"Alfonso,  since  the  report  is  concerning 
a  woman's  character,  my  lips  should  be 
sealed,  and  would  be,  except  you  my  friend 
are  the  most  interested  party.  The  club 
story  is  that  a  handsome  young  officer,  who 
left  his  newly  wedded  wife  in  Bristol,  Eng 
land,  was  so  much  enamored  of  the  charm 
ing  widow  aboard  ship  that  suspicions  were 
aroused,  and  in  fact  confirmed,  by  an  ad 
ditional  report  that  valuable  diamonds  had 
been  sent  by  the  same  officer  from  Tif 
fany's  to  the  lady,  who  is  stopping  some 
where  on  Central  Park.  There,  Alfonso,  I 


426    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

have  given  you  the  story  and  the  whole 
may  be  true  or  false." 

It  was  now  Alfonso 's  turn  to  be  shocked ; 
he  could  not  believe  what  the  marquis  had 
told  him.  Next  day  he  visited  the  office  of 
the  American  Line,  found  that  Christine 
De  Ruyter  was  a  passenger  on  the  last 
steamer,  and  the  purser  gave  him  her  New 
York  address.  Then  the  marquis  volun 
teered  to  call,  in  Alfonso's  interests,  upon 
Miss  De  Ruyter  who  seemed  glad  to  see 
him,  and  was  amazed  with  the  story  which 
he  had  to  tell,  not  only  of  himself,  and 
his  good  fortune,  but  that  of  Alfonso.  That 
the  latter  was  alive  and  wealthy  was  news 
almost  too  good  to  believe. 

The  marquis  reported  to  Alfonso  that 
Christine  was  overjoyed  to  have  a  bygone 
mystery  so  fortunately  cleared  up,  and 
that  she  sent  him  an  urgent  invitation  to 
call  at  once. 

Christine  congratulated  herself  over  her 
good  luck  at  the  very  threshold  of  the 
new  world.  "Strange  romance,  indeed,  it 
would  be, ' '  she  mused  to  herself,  ' '  if,  after 
having  refused  the  poor  artist,  he  having 
gained  riches  should  prove  loyal,  and  lay 
his  heart  and  fortune  at  my  feet!  Would 
I  reject  him!  No,  indeed!  He  has  gold 


Unexpected  Meetings  427 

now."  Thus  musing  to  herself  before  the 
mirror,  she  gave  final  touches  to  her  toilet, 
and  stepped  down  into  her  sister's  sumptu 
ous  parlor  to  wait  for  a  lover,  restored 
from  the  depths  of  the  sea. 

Promptly  at  9  o'clock  Alfonso  was 
ushered  into  Fredrika's  parlor.  For  a 
second,  Christine  stood  fixed  and  pale,  for 
Alfonso  it  really  was,  and  she  had  believed 
him  dead ;  then  extending  her  hand  she  gave 
him  greeting.  For  a  full  hour  Alfonso  and 
Christine  talked,  each  telling  much  of  what 
had  transpired  in  the  intervening  years. 
Alfonso  said  he  was  quite  as  much  sur 
prised  to  find  that  she  was  still  unmarried, 
as  she  seemed  surprised  that  he  was  still 
alive. 

"Alfonso,  I  have  waited  long  for  you," 
Christine  replied. 

"Ah,  yes,  Christine,  but  have  you  been 
true  all  these  years?" 

As  Alfonso  spoke  these  words,  he  sat 
with  Christine's  hand  in  his  own,  looking 
inquiringly  into  her  blue  eyes  for  her 
answer.  Her  face  flushed  and  she  was 
speechless. 

Alfonso,  dropping  her  hand,  said  in  a 
kindly  voice,  "For  years  I  have  kept  pure 
and  sought  to  be  worthy  of  you,  and  for- 


428    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

tune  has  smiled  upon  me;  I  could  now 
match  gold  with  gold,  but  when  I  demand 
purity  for  purity  your  silence  and  your 
blushes  condemn  you,  and  I  must  bid  you 
a  final  farewell. ' ' 

Christine  could  not  answer,  and  as 
Alfonso  left  the  house,  she  fell  weeping 
upon  the  sofa,  where  her  sister  Fredrika 
found  her,  long  past  midnight.  The  terrible 
sorrow  of  that  evening  remained  forever 
a  mystery  to  Fredrika, 

It  was  10  o  'clock  next  morning  when  the 
marquis  called  upon  Alfonso  Harris  at  the 
Hotel  Holland.  He  found  him  busy  answer 
ing  important  letters  from  the  coast.  The 
marquis  was  not  long  in  detecting  that 
Alfonso  lacked  his  usual  buoyancy  of 
spirits,  and  so  rightly  concluded  that  the 
meeting  with  Christine  the  night  before 
had  resulted  unfavorably. 

Alfonso  explained  all  that  transpired, 
and  the  two  artists,  who  had  flattered 
themselves  that  they  knew  women  well, 
admitted  to  each  other  their  keen  disap 
pointment  in  Christine's  character.  Both 
lighted  cigars,  and  for  a  moment  or  two 
unconsciously  smoked  vigorously,  as  if  still 
in  doubt  as  to  their  unsatisfactory  con 
clusions. 


Unexpected  Meetings  429 

Soon  Alfonso  said,  "Leo,  how  about 
your  own  former  love,  Rosie  Ricci?  To 
meet  Rossie  again  was  possibly  the  motive 
that  prompted  you  to  leave  your  estate  in 
Italy." 

"Yes,  Alfonso,  I  loved  Rosie,  as  I  once 
frankly  stated  to  your  sister  on  the  ocean, 
but  in  a  moment  of  peevishness  she  re 
turned  the  engagement  tokens,  and  the 
lovers'  quarrel  resulted  in  separation.  But 
after  the  death  of  Lucille  I  found  the 
smouldering  fires  of  the  old  love  for  Rosie 
again  easily  fanned  into  a  flame,  so  I 
crossed  the  sea  in  search  of  my  dear 
country-woman. ' ' 

"And  did  you  find  her? " 

"Yes,  Alfonso,  that  is,  all  that  was  left 
of  the  vivacious,  happy  songster,  as  we 
once  knew  her.  Her  new  world  surround 
ings  proved  disastrous." 

"How  so?" 

"Look,  here  is  a  picture  in  water  color, 
that  tells  the  story."  Saying  this  the 
Marquis  slowly  removed  a  white  paper 
from  a  small  sketch  which  he  had  made  the 
week  before.  It  was  a  picture  in  the  morgue 
on  the  East  River,  with  its  half  hundred 
corpses,  waiting  recognition  or  burial  in 
the  Potter's  Field.  Upon  a  cold  marble 


430    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

slab  lay  the  body  of  a  young  girl,  her 
shapely  hands  across  her  breast.  Alfonso 
recognized  Bosie's  sweet  face  and  golden 
tresses  that  artists  had  raved  over. 

The  marquis  in  sad  tones  added  a  few 
words  of  explanation.  "The  senator  who 
educated  Bosie  proved  a  villain.  When  she 
acted  as  Juliet  at  the  Capitol,  fashionable 
society  gave  hearty  approval  of  her  rare 
abilities.  Bosie 's  genius,  like  a  shooting 
star,  flashed  across  the  sky  and  then  shot 
into  oblivion." 

A  few  days  afterwards,  Alfonso  on  the 
pier  with  his  white  handkerchief  waved 
adieu  to  Leo  who  had  resolved  to  wed  art 
in  sunny  Italy.  Sad  memories  decided  Al 
fonso  to  leave  New  York  at  once.  For  a 
short  time  he  was  inclined  to  give  up  a  new 
purpose,  and  return  to  his  own  family  at 
Harris ville,  but  the  law  of  equity  controlled 
his  heart,  he  journeyed  back  to  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  again  approached  the  Yosemite 
Valley. 

Seated  again  on  Inspiration  Point,  he 
gazed  long  and  earnestly  into  the  gorge 
below.  He  could  discern  neither  smoke  nor 
moving  forms.  All  had  changed;  not  the 
peaks,  or  domes,  or  wonderful  waterfalls ; 
all  these  remained  the  sarnie.  But  where 


Unexpected  Meetings  431 

were  Bed  Cloud  and  kind-hearted  Mari- 
posa?  Alfonso's  own  race  now  occupied 
the  valley  for  pleasure  and  for  gain. 

Mariposa  might  not  be  of  his  own  race, 
but  she  had  a  noble  heart.  Education  had 
put  her  in  touch  with  civilization,  and  she 
was  as  pure  as  the  snow  of  the  Sierras. 
He  wondered  if  she  ever  thought  of  him. 
He  remembered  that,  when  he  rode  away, 
her  face  was  turned  toward  the  Bridal 
Veil  Falls.  Did  she  thus  intend  to  say,  "I 
love  you?" 

At  midnight,  as  the  moon  rose  above  the 
forest,  the  tall  pines  whispered  of  Mari 
posa,  of  wild  flowers  she  was  wont  to 
gather,  of  journeys  made  to  highest  peaks, 
of  weeks  of  watching  and  waiting,  and  of 
the  burial  of  Bed  Cloud  at  the  foot  of  an 
ancient  sequoia;  then  the  language  of  the 
breezes  among  the  pines  became  indistinct, 
and  Alfonso,  half -asleep,  half -awake,  saw 
approaching  a  white  figure.  Two  dark  eyes 
full  of  tears,  gazed  into  his  face,  at  first 
with  a  startled  look,  and  then  with  a  gleam 
of  joy  and  trust. 

Alfonso  exclaimed,  "Mariposa!"  He 
sought  to  clasp  her  in  his  arms,  but  the 
graceful  figure  vanished,  and  the  pines 
seemed  to  whisper,  "Alfonso,  I  go  to  join 


432    The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

the  braves  in  the  happy  hunting  grounds 
beyond  the  setting  sun.  You  will  wed  the 
fairest  of  your  people.  Adieu. ' ' 

When  Alfonso  awoke,  the  ring  of  beaten 
gold  was  gone,  where,  he  knew  not.  The 
tourist-coach  was  rumbling  down  the  moun 
tain  road,  and  he  joined  it.  After  an 
inspection  of  his  mines,  he  sadly  left  the 
Sierras  for  San  Francisco. 

The  prophetic  words  of  Mariposa,  whis 
pered  among  the  pines,  proved  true.  Al 
fonso  again  met  Gertrude's  best  friend, 
beautiful  Mrs.  Eastlake,  now  a  young 
widow,  and  later  he  married  her,  making 
their  home  on  Knob  Hill,  the  most  fashion 
able  quarter  of  the  city  by  the  Golden 
Gate. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE   CRISIS 

WHAT  is  of  more  value  to  civilization,  or 
what  commands  a  greater  premium  in  the 
world  than  successful  leadership?  Success 
ful  leaders  are  few,  and  the  masses  follow. 
Honor,  fame,  power,  and  wealth  are  some 
of  the  rewards  of  great  leadership.  The 
confidences  bestowed  and  the  responsibili 
ties  assumed  are  often  very  great.  A  be 
trayal  of  important  trusts,  or  a  failure  to 
discharge  responsibilities,  usually  brings 
swift  and  terrible  punishment,  poverty, 
prison,  disgrace,  and  dishonor  to  descend 
ants. 

George  Ingram  had  proved  himself  a 
successful  leader,  and  those  who  knew  him 
best,  by  study  of  his  methods  and  his  works, 
saw  his  capacity  for  leadership.  Hence  the 
popular  demand  for  him  to  stand  as  can 
didate  for  mayor  of  Harrisville.  His 
practical  intelligence,  and  his  acuteness  in 
observation  of  character,  had  served  him 
well  in  organizing,  developing,  and  con- 


434   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

trolling  the  greatest  model  steel-plant  of 
his  generation,  which  for  quality,  quantity, 
and  minimum  cost  of  products  had  at 
tracted  the  attention  of  manufacturers  and 
scientists.  Politicians  soon  discovered  in 
George  Ingram  natural  prudence  and  tact 
in  behavior.  The  strong  religious  element 
of  the  city  conceded  that  he  possessed, 
as  a  certain  doctor  of  divinity  said,  "a 
nice  sense  of  what  is  right,  just  and  true, 
with  a  course  of  life  corresponding 
thereto." 

The  alert  women  of  the  city  were  in 
hearty  approval  of  conferring  the  honor 
of  Mayor  upon  George  Ingram.  They  knew 
that  the  completeness  of  his  character 
resulted  in  no  small  degree  from  the  in 
fluence  of  his  gifted  wife.  The  practical 
business  men  of  the  city  saw  that  the 
proposed  candidate  for  mayor  had  good 
common  sense.  So  all  party  spirit  was  laid 
aside,  as  it  should  be  in  local  politics,  and 
George  Ingram  was  nominated  and  elected 
unanimously  as  the  mayor  of  Harrisville. 
His  cabinet,  composed  of  the  heads  of 
several  departments,  was  filled  with  able 
men,  who  with  zest  took  up  their  portfolios 
not  with  the  thought  of  personal  gain  but 
with  the  lofty  purpose  of  securing  the 
utmost  good  to  every  citizen. 


The  Crisis  435 

Fortunately  the  city  had  adopted  the 
just  principle  of  paying  its  servants  lib 
erally  for  all  services  rendered.  By  the  so- 
called  "Federal  Plan"  the  number  of 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  of  the  Board  of 
Control,  of  the  Council,  and  of  the  School 
Board,  has  been  so  reduced  that  at  their 
meetings  speeches  and  angry  discussions 
were  tabooed;  each  associate  member  was 
respected,  if  not  on  his  own  account,  then 
on  behalf  of  his  constituency,  and  all  busi 
ness  was  discussed  and  consummated  with 
the  same  courtesy  and  efficiency,  as  at  a 
well  regulated  board  of  bank  directors. 

Never  before  were  streets  so  well  paved, 
cleaned  and  sprinkled;  never  were  city 
improvements  so  promptly  made  without 
increase  of  debt,  and  never  did  public 
schools  prosper  better.  Men  of  experience 
on  all  lines  were  drafted  on  special  com 
mittees  and  commissions,  and  vigorous 
work  toward  practical  ends  went  forward 
on  river,  harbor,  and  other  improvements. 

Electricity,  supplied  by  the  city,  fur 
nished  power, heat, and  light.  High  pressure 
water  relegated  the  steam  fire-engine  to  the 
Historical  Society,  and  low  pressure  water, 
at  minimum  cost,  was  supplied  to  the 
people  in  such  abundance  that  during  the 
summer  season,  before  sunrise,  all  paved 


436   The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

streets  were  cleansed  by  running  water 
and  brush  brooms.  All  sewerage  and  garb 
age  were  promptly  removed,  and  used  to 
enrich  the  suburban  market-gardens. 

Every  country  road  leading  into  the  city 
had  its  electric  railway  with  combination 
passenger  and  freight  cars,  and  farm 
products  for  the  people  were  delivered  in 
better  condition,  earlier  at  the  markets,  and 
at  much  reduced  prices.  The  advantages 
enjoyed  by  rich  and  poor  in  Harrisville 
were  soon  noised  abroad,  and  the  influx 
of  new  comers  constantly  increased  the 
growth  of  the  city.  Mayor  Ingram  had 
been  given  a  re-election.  Prosperity  in  his 
own  business  had  brought  great  returns, 
and  the  mayor's  chief  concern  was,  what 
to  do  with  his  accumulations. 

One  day  the  County  Commissioners,  the 
City  Government,  the  Chamber  of  Com 
merce,  and  the  Board  of  Education  were 
equally  surprised  to  receive  from  George 
Ingram  the  announcement  that  he  would 
build  for  the  people  at  his  own  expense 
a  court  house,  a  city  hall,  a  public 
library,  and  public  baths.  He  had  often 
wondered  how  it  was  possible  that  other 
millenaries  could  overlook  and  miss  such 
opportunities  to  distribute  surplus  funds 


The  Crisis  437 

among  the  people.  Gertrude  early  observed 
the  city's  needs,  and  had  pointed  out  the 
opportunity  to  George,  urging  that  part  of 
her  father's  money  should  be  united  with 
their  own  increasing  wealth  to  supply 
funds  for  the  execution  of  their  plans. 

The  four  committees  appointed  by  city 
and  county  acted  speedily  in  the  considera 
tion  of  details.  It  was  decided  to  construct 
a  group  of  buildings  on  the  park.  The 
architecture  adopted  for  all  four  structures 
was  Romanesque  in  style;  granite  was 
used  for  wall  work,  and  darker  stone  for 
ornamentation.  The  plans  accepted  exhib 
ited  less  massiveness  than  the  original 
Romanesque,  and  showed  a  tendency  to 
wards  the  lightness  and  delicacy  of  finish 
which  modern  culture  demands. 

The  new  court  house  located  on  the 
park  enabled  the  architect  to  connect  it  by 
an  historical  "Bridge  of  Sighs "  with  the 
prison  and  old  court  house  across  the 
street.  The  city  hall  was  properly  made 
the  most  prominent  of  the  group  of  build 
ings.  Its  first  floor  and  basement  were 
combined  in  a  great  assembly  hall,  cap 
able  of  seating  10,000  people  with  an  abun 
dance  of  light,  fresh  air,  and  eight  broad 
entrances  for  exit.  As  the  belfry  or  tower 


438   The  Harris-Ing  ram  Experiment 

was  a  leading  feature  of  most  mediaeval 
town-kails,  so  the  artistic  feature  of  the 
Harrisville  city  hall  was  its  lofty  tower, 
containing  chimes,  above  which  was  to  be 
placed  an  appropriate  bronze  statue.  The 
library  and  the  baths  were  built  on  the 
park. 

The  Romanesque  style  of  all  the  build 
ings  gave  fine  opportunity  to  introduce 
elaborate  carvings  about  the  entrance 
arches,  and  across  the  facades  to  chisel 
quaint  faces  above  the  windows,  and  gro 
tesque  heads  out  of  corbels  at  the  eaves. 

The  group  of  public  buildings  was  fi 
nally  completed  and  dedicated  with  much 
formality.  The  city  government  unani 
mously  adopted  resolutions  as  follows:— 

"RESOLVED, — That  the  City  of  Harris 
ville    accepts,    with    profound    gratitude, 
from  Mayor  George  Ingram,  the  munifi 
cent  gift  of  buildings  for  a  City  Hall  and 
Public  Library  as  stated  in  his  letters  of 
— ;  That  the  City  accepts  the  three 
noble  gifts  upon  the  conditions  in  said 
letter,  which  it  will  faithfully  and  gladly 
observe,  as  a  sacred  trust  in  accordance 
with  his  desire. 

"RESOLVED, — That  in  gratefully  accept 
ing  these  gifts,  the  City  tenders  to  Mayor 


The  Crisis  439 

George  Ingram  its  heartfelt  thanks,  and 
desires  to  express  its  deep  sense  of  obliga 
tion  for  the  elegant  buildings,  for  years 
of  wise  counsel  and  unselfish  service,  and 
for  the  free  use  of  valuable  patents.  The 
City  recognizes  the  Christian  faith,  gener 
osity,  and  public  spirit  that  have  prompted 
him  to  supply  the  long  felt  wants  by  these 
gifts  of  great  and  permanent  usef ulness. ' ' 

Similar  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
county  commissioners. 

Nearly  three  millions  were  thus  disposed 
of  by  the  mayor  and  his  wife.  Close  atten 
tion  to  business,  and  the  severe  labors  in 
behalf  of  the  city,  undermined  the  health 
of  George  Ingram,  and  his  physical  and 
mental  strength  failed  him  at  the  wrong 
time,  for  his  ship  was  now  approaching 
a  cyclone  on  the  financial  sea. 

Tariff  matters  had  been  drifting  from 
bad  to  worse,  politicians  were  seeking  to 
secure  advantages  for  their  constituents  by 
changes  in  the  tariff  schedule,  specula 
tion  was  running  wild  in  the  stock  ex 
changes  of  the  country;  cautious  business 
men  and  bankers  in  the  larger  cities  dis 
covered  an  ominous  black  cloud  rising  out 
of  the  horizon.  Bank  rates  of  interest  in 
creased,  more  frequent  renewals  were 


440    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

made,  deposits  dwindled,  country  bankers 
weakened,  and  financiers  in  the  metropolis 
were  calling  loans  made  to  the  interior. 
With  the  financial  cyclone  at  its  height, 
the  demands  were  so  great  upon  The 
Harris-Ingram  Steel  Co.  that  creditors 
threatened  to  close  the  steel  plant. 

The  cry  for  help  went  up  from  the 
Harris-Ingram  mills,  but  their  trusted 
leader  was  powerless.  George  Ingram  lay 
insensible  at  death's  door,  the  victim  of 
pneumonia.  For  a  week,  the  directors  of 
the  steel  company  struggled  night  and  day 
with  their  difficulties.  Gertrude  could 
neither  leave  the  bedside  of  her  dying  hus 
band,  nor  would  she  give  her  consent  to 
have  the  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 
wrecked.  She  had  already  pledged  as  col 
lateral  for  the  creditors  of  the  steel  com 
pany  all  their  stock  and  personal  property, 
and  had  telephoned  the  directors  to  keep 
the  company  afloat  another  day,  if  in  their 
power. 

The  ablest  physicians  of  the  city  were 
standing  at  George  Ingram 's  bedside  in 
despair,  as  all  hope  of  his  recovery  had 
vanished.  Gertrude  stepped  aside  into  her 
library,  and  was  in  the  very  agony  of 
prayer  for  help,  when  in  rushed  her 


The  Crisis  441 

brother  Alfonso,  whom  the  family  be- 
Jieved  dead.  He  had  come  from  California 
with  his  wife,  and  stopping  at  the  com 
pany's  office,  had  learned  of  the  terrible 
trouble  of  his  family. 

Lifting  up  his  broken-hearted  sister,  who 
for  a  moment  thought  that  she  had  met  her 
brother  on  the  threshold  of  the  other 
world,  he  kissed  Gertrude  and  said,  "Be 
brave,  go  back  to  your  husband,  and  trust 
your  brother  to  look  after  the  steel  com 
pany's  matters." 

Alfonso  learned  that  one  million  dollars 
were  needed  at  once  to  tide  over  the  com 
pany  's  affairs ;  he  drew  two  checks,  for  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  each,  upon  his 
banks  in  San  Francisco  and  requested  the 
creditors  to  wire  to  the  coast.  Before 
two  o'clock  replies  came  that  Alfonso 
Harris's  checks  were  good,  and  the  only 
son  of  Eeuben  Harris  had  saved  the 
'  *  Harris-Ingram  Experiment. ' '  Mariposa  's 
band  of  beaten  gold  had  worked  its  magic. 

*•  6  °  ••'••• 

A  public  funeral  was  given  George  In 
gram.  He  was  a  man  the  city  could  ill 
afford  to  lose,  and  every  citizen  felt  he 
had  lost  a  personal  friend.  All  business 


442    The  Harris-Ingram  Experiment 

was  suspended,  and  the  mills  were  shut 
down.  For  two  days  the  body  of  the  dead 
mayor  lay  in  state  in  the  city  hall  he 
had  built  and  given  to  the  people.  The 
long  line  of  citizens  that  filed  past  the 
coffin  continued  through  the  night  till  dawn, 
and  even  then,  great  throngs  stood  in  the 
rain  with  flowers  for  his  casket. 

As  a  token  of  their  high  regard  the  peo 
ple  voted  to  change  the  name  of  the  city 
of  Harris ville  to  Harris-Ingram,  the  sub 
urb  which  was  annexed,  and  to  place  a 
bronze  statue  of  George  Ingram  on  the 
tower  above  the  city  hall,  which  now  be 
came  his  fitting  monument.  Labor  and 
capital  united  in  electing  for  the  head  of 
the  great  Harris-Ingram  Steel  Company, 
Alfonso,  the  millionaire  and  artist-son  of 
Keuben  Harris. 


YB  742 


